




COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 




« 
























/ 




« 








* 

* 









HIS ARMS PLOWED THE AIR LIKE OLD-TIME FLAILS 

( Page 153.) 



ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


OR 

BOY SAILORS O r THE CHINA SEA 

BY 

St* George Ratbbome 

AUTHOR OF 

“young castaways/’ “young voyagers of the 

NILE,” “DOWN THE AMAZON,” ETC. 


ILLUSTRATED 

BY 

ffca /I&aB IRocfcwell 


AKRON, OHIO 

THE SRALEIELD PUBLISHING CO. 

NEW YORK 1905 CHICAGO 





U83ARY of 
fwa Oopwa rt«;avaa 

OCT 0 jtfOb 

. Go&yriKiu zmy 

6W. A. / 903~ 

a~ 

J £Zot3 

liOfV s. 



Copyright, 1905, 

BY 

THE SAAEFIEED PUBLISHING COMPANY 



Made by 

Robert Smith Printing Co. t 
Lansing, Mich. 


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 

His arms plowed the air, like a couple of old-time flails 



Frontispiece 

The harpoon flew just at the proper instant 

120 

“Why, it’s old Falstaff!” cried Merriwether 

180 

“Saved by a neck! There come your British 

jack-tars, 

Bob, my boy!” 

310 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER. PAGE. 

I. Julian Makes Friends in Hongkong .... 7 

II. On Board the Blunt-Nosed Brig 21 

HI. The Terrible New Mate 35 

IV. Down the Chinese Coast 48 

V. The Mutineers Have Their Inning 62 

VI. Sent Adrift in a Yawl 75 

VII. The Typhoon Arrives on Time 87 

VIII. Making and Manning a Life-Raft 99 

IX. Harpooning the Man-Eater no 

X. Two Days With the Castaways 121 

XI. On Board the Half-Moon 134 

XII. History of the Drifting Junk 144 

XIII. The* Ghost that Groaned 154 

XIV. Mate Merriwether’s Story 168 

XV. Kwang Chow Tries it Again 182 

XVI. Among the Pirate Islands 194 

XVII. A Trick of the Pearl Divers 205 

XVIII. Two Men in a Sampan 217 

XIX. Marooned on the Dragon's Island 229 

XX. Invasion of the Vipers’ Nest 242 

XXI. Fire-Signals in the Air 254 

XXII. The Peal of the Cracked Bell 265 

XXIII. Result of the Night Attack 278 

XXIV. Merriwether Fires the Gingal 290 

XXV. Overtaken at Daybreak 304 

XXVI. In Port at Last 317 


CHAPTER I. 


JULIAN MAKES FRIENDS IN HONGKONG. 

A bright-faced sailor lad of about seventeen, 
whose appearance stamped him as one born un- 
der the protecting folds of Old Glory, was 
sprawled upon a rock near the crest of the fa- 
mous hill known as “ Topside,’ ’ or the “Peak,” 
overlooking one of the most charming scenes in 
the whole world— the harbor of Hongkong. At 
his feet lay the city locally known as Victoria, 
and around him, on the noble elevation, clustered 
scores of European dwellings, fashioned after 
the East Indian bungalow type. To one who 
had the blood of New Bedford skippers in his 
veins, the panorama of the harbor far eclipsed 
all else, and indeed, it presented many unique 
points of interest with the blue water dimpled 


8 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


by the passing breeze stealing in from the mys- 
terious China Sea, home of romance and strange 
happenings. Scores of merchant vessels and 
grim men-o’-war were anchored in the offing or 
made fast to the docks with stout hawsers ; and 
mingled with the foreign shipping, hundreds of 
piratical-looking junks and dilapidated sampans 
could be seen. 

Those houses on the Peak, built of brick and 
stone, have been “ cemented with blood/ * since 
every pound of material was transported up the 
steep, winding road on human shoulders. Even 
as young Julian Roxbury lay there at his ease, 
the tortuous trail near by was thronged with 
burden-bearers, all headed upward, coolies, men 
and children, each with a staggering load; ma- 
chines of labor, phlegmatic, accustomed to suf- 
fering, and seldom smiling; though at midday, 
with the advent of the ‘ ‘ chow-chow ’ ’ man, the 
burdens had been dropped, and tongues loosened 
as the chop-sticks clattered, with a result that 
might have even shamed the confusion said to 
exist at the historical Tower of Babel. 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


9 


While familiar with life on the sea ever since 
his first fishing trip to the Banks as a very small 
“ shaver / 9 Julian had not launched forth upon 
the vast ocean through love for the calling of a 
sailor ; nor was the usual boyish longing to gaze 
upon strange foreign ports wholly answerable 
for his pilgrimage. A yearning that had long 
been fought off, but which finally became irre- 
sistible, took possession of him heart and soul; 
a desire to discover some trace of a dearly-loved 
father, once commander of a vessel that had mys- 
teriously disappeared in these dangerous seas, 
was the mainspring that urged him to give up a 
comfortable home, part from weeping mother 
and sisters, and set out boldly to investigate a 
remarkable rumor that had been brought home 
by a fellow townsman, an ancient mariner, fresh 
from the tropical land of the White Elephant, 
Siam. 

Lack of means had compelled the young fel- 
low to go before the mast, so that he had virtu- 
ally worked his way out to Hongkong, suffer- 
ing considerably from the brutish instincts of a 


10 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


Yankee skipper, whom he was pleased to leave 
in the lurch at Nagasaki, Japan, coming the rest 
of the way on a native vessel, and picking up 
considerable knowledge concerning these slant- 
eyed people of the Mongolian races; informa- 
tion that might sooner or later prove valuable to 
one who designed to do more or less prowling 
about the shores of the great China Sea. Strand- 
ed in Hongkong, he had, with the usual Yankee 
aggressiveness, applied himself to the task of 
securing means wherewith his present wants 
could be supplied until such time as he found a 
chance to embark on some vessel hound along 
the coast toward Singapore. Somewhere in that 
stretch of waters he believed there lay an island 
used more or less as a rendezvous by the native 
yellow-skinned buccaneers, whose tactics dif- 
fered vastly from the bold and bloody ways 
of Captain Kidd and his merry men, though the 
net results might seem just as disastrous to un- 
fortunate craft that happened to fall into their 
unscrupulous hands. Among these outcasts and 
nomads he had been informed a few prisoners 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


11 


were kept, one of whom answered in many ways 
the description of his father ; so that his eager- 
ness to reach some conclusion in the matter 
could be easily understood. 

Julian looked to see whether any new ships 
had come into port since his last survey of the 
previous day, and what chance they appeared to 
offer a fellow of his size who cuddled such a 
strange ambition to his heart. The result was 
hardly satisfying, though he rather fancied the 
looks of a blunt-nosed brig with patched sails 
that seemed to bear the marks of a trader, if his 
judgment were worth anything. 

Our young friend from Connecticut was not 
the first, by long odds, to make use of the Peak 
as an observatory. In years long since passed, 
before the Cross of St. George had ever been 
raised above Hongkong, the cruel pirates of 
the China Sea sighted their intended prey from 
this lofty height, and signaled the fleet of war- 
junks lying in the harbor below, like a pack of 
sea-hounds, impatient to slip the leash. Satisfied 
at length with his observations, and having 


12 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


marked the position of the dingy brig in his 
mind, so that he could find her easily when upon 
the quay, Julian abandoned his perch, sauntered 
over to the tramcar that descended the hill, and 
half an hour later was in the native quarters of 
the Oriental city. 

Here the pig-tailed Celestials fairly seethed; 
beyond the European quarter one might ride for 
a mile without meeting ten foreigners, through 
streets teeming with almond-eyed Mongols, go- 
ing about their business, as has been remarked 
by one traveler of renown, “with a preposter- 
ous seriousness that only gives way to hilarity 
at the occasional spectacle of some misfortune to 
a fellow’’; which proves how prone all flesh is 
to a keen sense of the ridiculous. 

The shops were open with gaudy wares ex- 
posed; there were native industries, the gor- 
geous garments of the upper classes, an everlast- 
ing procession of sedan-chairs and jinrickshas, 
and the ordinary throngs of jostling wayfarers 
and porters, looking very picturesque in their 
wicker hats, and carrying the inevitable bamboo, 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 13 

without which they would he utterly useless as 
burden-hearers. 

Many things about this region took the eye of 
the youngster ; he liked to loiter about the shops, 
and utilize his smattering of the Chinese tongue 
to learn what the general talk was all about ; per- 
haps in his sanguine, boyish way, he hoped that 
some time he might be able to pick up certain 
information concerning the strange errand that 
had coaxed him from his New England home; 
just as if the disappearance of one sailor cap- 
tain, or one ship for that matter, could interest 
the gossiping tongues of Hongkong Celestials, 
especially when the affair had occurred some 
years in the past. A fortnight had thus passed, 
and he was growing impatient to be on his pil- 
grimage again, since he had not come thus far to 
simply take his ease among a lot of chattering 
Johns. 

As the afternoon waned he began to work his 
way down toward the quays, with the intention 
of finding out something about the brig that had 
attracted his attention. Here were sailors’ 


14 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


boarding-houses, with the inevitable land-sharks 
running them that are to be found in every sea- 
port in the world— Julian had a cubby-hole of a 
den in one of the same, and daily ran the gant- 
let of the “press-gang,” as he joyously styled 
the fellows who sought to influence men to ship 
with certain captains, and, it was hinted, some- 
times even went to extreme measures in order to 
win the fat fee offered for seamen delivered on 
board. Those who landed from many of the ves- 
sels were compelled to pass through this unsav- 
ory section, and during his stay Julian had been 
a witness to several scenes of violence that dis- 
gusted him, making his Yankee blood fairly boil, 
for he was a believer in fair play and that every 
man had certain rights which others should be 
made to respect. 

As usual, there was something stirring in this 
delectable quarter about the time he drew up in 
front of his lodgings. Though bored at a repe- 
tition of such unsavory antics on the part of 
lounging sailors and rascally representatives of 
all nations, Julian turned aside to see what it 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


15 


was all about, never dreaming what an influence 
upon his whole future this simple act of curiosity 
would prove. 

A motley crowd surged this way and that, loud 
voices sounded, and Julian knew that an over- 
indulgence in strong drink must he the main 
cause of the disturbance, since under its in- 
fluence men always go about like roaring lions, 
seeking trouble. 

Somewhat to his surprise he discovered a 
stocky lad, with a rough shock of tawny hair 
that stood out like the mane of an African king 
of beasts, actually dancing a sailor’s hornpipe 
in front of a hulking big seaman, whose clumsy 
though vicious defense against his mosquito-like 
antagonist told of too frequent potations in the 
vile dens that always lie open for the unwary 
feet of poor Jack ashore, just as the web of the 
spider catches the unsuspicious fly. The young- 
ster was fairly up in the manly art of self-de- 
fense, to judge from his promptness in taking 
advantage of each and every opening offered; 
and somehow Julian guessed with his Yankee 


16 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


propensity that he must hail from the tight little 
island upon whose possessions the sun never 
sets. It was a pretty good random shot, too, as 
he discovered later on, when his acquaintance 
with valiant Bobby Kettles waxed warmer. 

Naturally his sympathies instantly went out 
to a fellow in distress, for the bully seemed to 
have numerous cronies in the rough crowd, and 
since it would hardly be politic or safe to draw 
up alongside and dare the whole bunch to deadly 
battle, Julian cudgeled his brain to discover 
some plan whereby he might succeed in drawing 
the little bantam off, and, in other words, effect- 
ing what historians delight in calling a “ mas- 
terly retreat.” Fortune favored such a scheme, 
for the brawl had taken place before the very 
door of the shanty where our young friend had 
his lodgings. Of course he chanced to be some- 
what familiar with the lay of the land, and 
speedily saw a way to draw the threatened one 
through a door against which he seemed to have 
pluckily taken his stand, just as they tell us 
Rhoderick Dhu did upon a certain famous occa- 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


17 


sion in his native Scotland, though it chanced to 
he a rock that rounded out his defense. 

It took hut a minute for Julian to scurry 
around into the house. No one appeared to pay 
the least attention to him, being wholly en- 
grossed with the stirring little panorama that 
was taking place just heyond, and which pos- 
sessed all the elements calculated to charm the 
heart of tavern loungers. The door was fas- 
tened with a rusty holt, and had perhaps not 
been opened for a long time hack, so that J ulian 
found it no easy task to throw the bit of iron 
hack and budge the woodwork, though finally 
muscular effort triumphed over obstinate ele- 
ments, and he looked out upon the turbulent 
scene. 

The squatty English sailor lad made a furious 
onslaught and, having staggered his big tor- 
mentor, retired again into his hole, which was 
nothing more nor less than the arch under the 
doorway. 

Julian eagerly plucked him by the sleeve. 
“Come in here, you,” he exclaimed, and the 


18 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


boxer, who had turned, ready to do battle with 
some unexpected enemy in his rear, grinned with 
delight when the words met his ear, for it was 
getting night, and under the arched doorway one 
could not see with any degree of certainty, so 
that it must have been the clean-cut American 
way of speaking that gave him to understand 
he had a friend at court. 

“Aw, I’m not alone; will you look to the girl 
first V y he cried, still making extravagant dem- 
onstrations with his fists, as if to convince the 
enemy that his spirit was far from being cowed, 
and that it would be dangerous to rush in upon 
one so well versed in the art of self-defense. 

This was something Julian had not counted 
on; but poking his head out a little further, he 
detected what seemed to be an inert bundle 
crouched close by; a bundle that gave evidence 
of life as he reached out and took hold of it, so 
that in another second he found himself drawing 
a small edition of a golden-haired and blue-eyed 
doll through the gap, she struggling more or 
less and whispering shrilly to “ Bobby ” not to 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


19 


allow her to he kidnapped under his eyes. The 
same Bobby had an eye to the main chance, for 
he also hastened to slip in through the narrow 
opening, after which he pushed the heavy door 
shut and could he heard fumbling for the lock, 
which he seemed to divine must he there. It was 
all done so mysteriously, and with such an utter 
absence of fuss, that no one in the crowd jostling 
each other outside seemed to understand how the 
object of their unwelcome attentions had van- 
ished, though presently perhaps some of the 
most violent might try to search the house in the 
endeavor to locate the plucky sailor lad. 

‘ 4 Come with me! help her along, will you? 
She is afraid of me, I guess,” was the way Ju- 
lian addressed his newly-found acquaintance; 
but evidently the owner of the saucy blue eyes 
heard and resented the suspicion, for she imme- 
diately took hold of his arm and declared in no 
uncertain tone that she not only trusted him, 
but was ready to go where he said. Now, as 
Julian had sisters at home, as a general thing he 
did not take much stock in girls, and looked upon 


20 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


them all as rank cowards, ready to scream at 
sight of a tiny monse, so that this evidence of 
actual courage on the part of a member of the 
despised sex rather startled him ; but he made no 
reply, only hurrying the twain along in the dark 
until they reached the rickety stairs by means of 
which the upper loft could be gained, as it was 
there his * 1 sweat-box, ’ 9 as he facetiously called 
his diminutive quarters, was located. 

Once inside, he fastened the door after a meth- 
od of his own, by placing a piece of board against 
the knob and securing the other end against a 
knot-hole in the flooring, after which he heaved 
a sigh of relief, as if he had thrown a heavy 
burden off his shoulders. The blind at the win- 
dow was shut, as he already knew, so that he felt 
it was safe to light the butt of a tallow candle 
which he kept on a box that served to also hold 
the tin wash basin; for somehow Julian was 
eager to look upon the faces of those new friends 
whom he had been enabled to serve. 


CHAPTER II. 

ON BOARD THE BLUNT-NOSED BRIO. 

Julian was not of a nature to take up with 
every fellow whom fortune might throw in his 
way ; but there was something attractive to him 
in the humorous, good-natured countenance of 
Bob Kettles, and from the very start he seemed 
to be drawn toward the English lad. Besides, 
he had seen the other stand his ground most val- 
iantly against a chap almost twice his size, and 
Young America is always an admirer of grit, no 
matter where found. 

The girl also interested him, she was such a 
dainty little body, pert in her way, yet apparent- 
ly possessing an affectionate disposition toward 
those whom she looked upon as friends ; she was 
pretty, too, and boys notice such things long be- 
fore they begin to call themselves young men. 

21 


22 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


“I say,” declared Bob, with his usual impet- 
uosity, thrusting out his hand to this new-found 
friend, ‘ ‘ this is a nice thing you ’ve done for us, 
and we’re awfully obliged, Tressie and I, ain’t 
we, Tress?” Whereupon the little one also 
thrust out a hand, as though she did not intend 
to let him monopolize the shaking business ; and 
Julian smilingly complied with her request to 
ratify the new friendship. 

“I don’t know whether we’re exactly safe 
here or not; some of those chaps seemed deter- 
mined to jump on you, and I know they’re a 
tough crowd. Suppose I go and listen at the top 
of the stairs; I’ll only be gone a few minutes, 
and if it’s all right you’ll see me back again 
soon. If they make a move toward the stairs, 
we’ll have to get out some back way, and it’ll be 
hard, with a girl along, for there’s some climb- 
ing to do.” 

“ Don’t worry about me— I’ve lived on board 
ship so long that I climb like a monkey ; isn ’t it 
so, Bobby?” quickly demanded the object of 
his anxiety. Bobby said it was, and he said it in 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


23 


such an emphatic manner that the other lad 
could have no question concerning its truth. 

When perhaps five minutes had passed Julian 
once more appeared, and from the look on his 
face the fugitives understood there was trouble. 
“I’m afraid we must skip out of here. There’s 
trouble down below. That big fellow suspects 
something, and he’s urging a search of the upper 
rooms. The landlord tries to oppose such a 
thing, hut I imagine he will have to give in pret- 
ty soon; and perhaps we’d better get ready to 
vamose the ranch. That old sinner seems to 
hate you well and good, Bob,” he said, with the 
easy familiarity of youth. 

The other chuckled and grinned. “Oh, yes, 
he has cause to, eh, Tressie ? You see his name 
is Pandy Crump— nice handle for a sailor, eh? 
He was second mate on her father’s vessel, and 
the toughest ever, so that he kept in hot water 
all the time, and Captain Baxter had to knock 
him down several times. He saw me laughing at 
him once and cursed me black and blue, so he’s 
had it in for me ever since. Besides, Tressie is 


24 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


the daughter of the man he hates like poison, 
and that’s the real secret of his jumping on us. 
He wouldn’t have dared if he hadn’t been more 
than three knots over, half drunk, I mean. Now, 
if you ’re going to show us the way out, pitch in, 
my hearty.” 

“I’m going with you,” remarked Julian 
quietly 

“Hurrah!” exclaimed the other in his im- 
petuous way, “good boy, you; awful glad to 
know you. Let’s be going, please.” 

Julian had not prowled about the interior of 
the sailors’ boarding-house without learning of 
its character, so that in an emergency like the 
present, he was able to utilize his knowledge to 
some advantage; accordingly he drew his new 
companions along a narrow passage, up another 
flight of stairs, this time consisting of but half 
a dozen steps, and finally arriving at the end of 
their journey where the corridor was closed by a 
wall, in which a small window opened some- 
where. 

Through this Julian thrust his head, and im- 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


25 


mediately announced that the coast seemed clear, 
which was doubtless very comforting intelli- 
gence to the hunted couple, for the gruff voice of 
their tormentor, Pandy Crump, came rolling 
along the twisting passage about this time, prov- 
ing that they had not left the room a minute too 
soon, since the giant was ascending the stairs to 
carry out his design of revenge for fancied 
wrongs at the hands of Tressie ’s father, the sea 
captain. 

Bob Kettles clambered up on the sill and was 
presently dangling outside, his feet resting on 
the lower roof of an extension. “Help Tressie, 
comrade,” he said, eagerly. Julian waited not 
on ceremony, hut picked the little girl up as 
though she were but a doll, and without much 
fuss managed to pass her out of the window into 
the waiting arms of her stalwart friend. 

“Good! Now you come along,” urged Bob 
in a whisper. 

It was only play for so athletic a chap as Ju- 
lian to get through the opening ; he had done his 
share of hanging to icy yards during a gale, and 


26 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


knew what his muscles were made for ; so that 
in a marvelously short space of time he, too, 
stood on the sloping roof of the kitchen, ready to 
make a descent. Here again he took the lead, 
since knowledge was power, and they were not 
yet in a position of safety. 

To reach the ground without attracting the at- 
tention of any one required considerable gener- 
alship, and Boh watched his movements with 
admiring eyes, feeling that he was in good 
hands. Julian dropped when he had gained the 
corner for which he had been aiming, and then 
at his request Bob handed down the precious lit- 
tle package to him. Tressie allowed herself to 
be thus taken care of with a demureness that 
told very plainly she was accustomed to being 
waited on, and in the days to come Julian would 
find himself numbered among her most willing 
slaves, content to jump when the little despot but 
signified a wish. 

Here again Julian’s knowledge of the sur- 
roundings stood them in good stead, for he was 
enabled to lead them through a gate into what 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


27 


seemed to be an alley. It was far from sweet- 
smelling, and the sounds of carousing welled 
out from various back doors of saloons ; but they 
could shut their ears to these several things, be- 
ing thankful that a way of escape had opened 
up. 

Their pace was hastened when the gruff voice 
of their vindictive enemy, the second mate, came 
bellowing from the upper window, as he ex- 
pressed his opinion that it might be possible for 
those he sought to have passed out that way. 
When a couple of streets had been placed be- 
hind them and they were well away from the 
danger line, the three came to a halt, all of them 
panting from their exertions, yet feeling that 
they had won a decided victory. 

Bobby was beaming like a newly-risen sun, 
for he could not forget how he had stood before 
his charge and given the half-drunken wretch 
numerous smart taps with his hard fists ; and his 
feelings toward Mate Crump were of such a 
nature that this fact gave him exquisite satis- 
faction. 


28 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


“ Where do you want to go now!” asked 
Julian, just as though he had constituted himself 
a courier or guide and had taken the twain under 
his wing. 

“Well, you see, comrade, we were heading 
for the place where we expected the boat of the 
Wanderer to meet us, but now it’s hard to say 
how we ’re going to get aboard the brig. ’ ’ 

Julian started at that last word. “Is that 
your vessel anchored out beyond the cruiser— 
the one with such a funny blunt stem I” he de- 
manded eagerly, as it flashed upon him that per- 
haps Fate had taken his fortunes in hand and 
meant to direct him in the way he had so long 
yearned to go. 

“That’s the illustrious Wanderer sure-pop, 
but you’re wrong to poke fun at her shape; she 
sails like a tub and rocks a chap to sleep as if 
you’re in a cradle. Besides, she has a history, 
that brig has, which some day I’ll take pleasure 
telling you.” He seemed to take it for granted 
that J ulian would be with him. 

“As to the boat, any other will do just as well, 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


29 


I guess, and I know where to get a fellow 
cheap,’ ’ he said, confidently. 

4 ‘ Bnt I haven ’t got a shilling by me ; perhaps 
he ’d wait for his pay till we hoarded the ship ? ’ ’ 
admitted Bob, and thereby proving that he was 
a true sailor, for Jack spends his money with 
a prodigal hand and is nearly always in a 
chronic state of bankruptcy. 

“ That’s all right— I can settle with the boat- 
man,” said Julian carelessly, though he knew 
it would possibly take the last penny he had; 
still, youth is naturally of a buoyant turn of 
mind, and the future gave him little anxiety. 

Flanked by such valiant protectors, the owner 
of the sunny blue eyes could not, of course, ex- 
perience anything like alarm, and she hung upon 
their arms with a confiding simplicity that quite 
won Julian’s heart, so that he even hoped he 
should see more of the young lady, which was 
rather an unusual turn of mind on his part, as 
he did not profess to give much thought to girls 
as a general thing. 

Down in one corner of the quay, just beyond 


30 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


where streams of coolies were stringing to and 
fro, carrying burdens upon their hacks or on 
the bamboo frame that nestled upon their will- 
ing shoulders, they found the waterman of whom 
Julian had spoken, an old acquaintance of his, 
and with whom he had held many conversations, 
airing his meager knowledge of Chinese, and 
doubtless content to explain much in vigorous 
pantomime. 

Kwang Chow was not only willing to carry 
them out to the brig, but eager, for trade had not 
been any too lively of late. His sampan was 
ready, and he hastened to usher the trio to seats 
under the little matting canopy that covered the 
end where passengers usually rested. 

“ Listen !” exclaimed Tressie at this moment. 

All of them heard the rumble of a deep bass 
voice, growling like a caged lion, and it came 
from a point not far removed. 

“I declare, he’s gone and followed us here! 
Will we ever shake the reptile off?” remarked 
Bobbie in extreme astonishment mingled with 
disgust. 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


31 


‘ ‘ Rather lie’s come here on general principles, 
knowing that you were hound for the brig; hut 
don’t worry, for we’ll laugh at him presently, 
when Kwang Chow gets started,” and turning 
his batteries upon the “Heathen Chinee” he 
bombarded him unmercifully with a mixture of 
pidgin-Englisli, a sort of language that seems 
to be fairly understood all over the world, being 
emphasized by various shrugs and gestures that 
carry a meaning not to be misunderstood. 
Kwang pushed off, and the three passengers 
crouched under the matting, so that it must have 
taken very keen eyes to have detected their pres- 
ence, and as to recognizing them, it was out of 
the question. 

Bob Kettles insisted upon gravely shaking 
hands with his new-found chum in commemora- 
tion of their victory. Even Tressie, in her way, 
was happy over the pleasant outcome of what 
had at one time promised to be an ugly affair, 
and she did not hesitate to state that she hoped 
the new boy would continue to make one of the 
company of the Wanderer ; that she meant to 


32 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


speak a good word for him with her father, and 
he could consider it as settled, for while her 
father ruled the ship she had her own way with 
him; all of which amused our Julian not a little, 
and he found himself hoping the arrangement 
might he brought about, though this would have 
to depend pretty much upon the course which 
the Wanderer meant to take after she left Hong- 
kong. 

Finally they drew close to the dingy brig, 
which Julian surveyed furtively, as became one 
to whom it might prove a future home for com- 
ing weeks or even months. The tide was on the 
ebb and gurgled against that remarkable sturdy 
bow, running along the side with soft touches, 
as though caressing the grim old warrior that 
had laughed so long at the fury of the sea. 

A man popped his head over the bulwarks and 
hailed. “ That’s papa,” announced Tressie, 
with a little cry of pleasure, and immediately 
waved her film of kerchief at the party above, 
announcing her arrival by a series of affection- 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


33 


ate salutations. The captain was apparently at 
a loss to understand why they came aboard in 
a native sampan instead of ship’s boat, which 
was waiting at the quay ; and he expressed him- 
self in forcible language; hut the slip of a girl 
soothed him just as a mother might a rebellious 
child, Julian thought, and while the gruff old 
captain might continue to growl, he did so in 
a very low voice. 

They clambered aboard the brig, and our 
friend could not but think that Fate had taken 
him in tow, since his wish of the afternoon 
seemed in such a fair way of being realized. Bob 
hung on to him, while the fairy took her papa 
in hand and her little tongue rattled away at a 
great rate. Julian knew he was the object of 
her discourse, and that she was lauding him to 
the skies; so that he felt considerable relief 
when Captain Baxter strode up to him with his 
big fist extended and his hairy face set in an 
amiable grin. 

£ ‘ It seems that I ’m under obligations to ye, my 


34 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


lad, and if you’re in need of a berth there’s a 
place for such a likely chap aboard this same 
craft at as fair wages as any man pays,” said 
the skipper, squeezing his hand. 


CHAPTER III. 

THE TERRIBLE NEW MATE. 

It was very pleasant for Julian to realize that 
he had made such good and true friends in this 
foreign port, and the offer of Captain Baxter 
just suited him, always providing the nose of 
the Wanderer was to be turned toward the south, 
for it was in that quarter his mission lay. 
Frankly he thanked the skipper for his propo- 
sition, and stated that when he shipped it must 
be on a vessel that had some destination between 
Hongkong and Singapore, as he had particular 
reasons for wishing to visit the coast of lower 
China and Siam. 

“Then there’s nothing to prevent you joining 
us, lad, for I’m aiming that way and hope to 
bring up at Calcutta later on, if my blessed crew 
35 


36 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


don’t run away with the whole bloody outfit be- 
fore. In forty years on the sea I never saw such 
trouble to pick up able men; the scum of the 
earth has certainly taken to sailoring these days. 
What say, youngster, do you go?” 

“And jump at the chance,” declared Julian; 
whereat the irresponsible Bob gave vent to a 
whoop and started to dance his usual jig, which 
appeared to be his ordinary method of showing 
enthusiasm, for no one paid the least attention 
to his eccentricities. 

“I’m real glad, too,” said Tressie, “for I 
want to show you some time that, because I ’m a 
girl is no reason I should be afraid of every- 
thing,” which remark brought out a roar from 
her indulgent dad, who, it was plain to be seen, 
worshiped the girl. He might be as hard as 
flint with an unruly crew, and knock men about 
as though they were tenpins, but a word from 
her lips softened his temper amazingly. 

The cook announced supper at this oppor- 
tune minute, and Captain Baxter invited Julian 
to join them at the evening meal. Bobby Ket- 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


37 


ties turned out to be a cousin seven times re- 
moved of Tressie, and seemed to enjoy certain 
privileges on board the brig ; in that he ate with 
the officers, and had duties part of the time of a 
clerical nature, casting up accounts and the like, 
although a sailor bred, and ready to take a trick 
at the wheel, or climb up the shrouds in a howl- 
ing hurricane, to clear away the wreck of spars 
above. 

It was by long odds the most delightful meal 
Julian had eaten since parting from his loved 
ones at home, now some months back; the fare 
was just the plain and palatable stuff one would 
expect to find on a vessel of this character ; but 
the flow of spirits charmed the lonely boy and 
made him feel his lines had indeed been cast in 
pleasant places. 

All arrangements were speedily made between 
the captain and himself, for upon examining the 
young fellow, the skipper found him well up in 
navigation, and quite fitted to take the place of 
his late second mate, Pandy Crump. This was 
a sudden rise in the world, and something which 


38 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


Julian had not dreamed of securing; he was of 
the opinion that the extreme scarcity of decent 
men had more to do with his promotion than any 
personal fitness on his part. 

The captain had pointed out to him how his 
search, as he had planned to make it, was like 
looking for a needle in a haystack, since he could 
not go where he wished, and where there seemed 
to he the best chance of finding those prisoners 
kept by the Chinese buccaneers. Now, if he 
only had money enough to charter a small ves- 
sel, the whole coast could be searched with a 
drag-net, just as they pick up oysters in these 
days ; and the desired end accomplished ; it 
might be better for him to wait until he had 
earned enough to do the thing properly, much 
as he disliked the idea of procrastination, when 
every day might mean continued mental torture 
and perhaps bodily pain to the parent he had 
loved so dearly. 

Julian promised to come on board in the morn- 
ing with his bundle, and after Tressie had shyly 
whispered something in her father’s ear, he 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


39 


laughed and insisted upon his new mate accept- 
ing an advance of wages, which might come in 
handy in the purchase of articles needed on the 
cruise. 

When he went ashore in the boat of Kwang 
Chow, who had persisted in waiting all this 
while, so that their dialogue might he continued 
on the way, Julian felt more light of heart than 
since leaving home. It is always a pleasant 
thing to make new friends, who take an interest 
in one’s welfare especially with a lad far from 
his own roof tree; and Julian blessed the lucky 
chance that led him to the scene of disturbance 
in time to assist the beleaguered ones; why, he 
even felt something akin to gratitude toward 
that ruffian, Mate Crump, since, hut for his de- 
sire for revenge it seemed doubtful whether he 
would have ever met Bob— and Tressie. 

In the morning he packed his few belongings, 
and purchased some things of a character to 
prove useful to him while aboard the brig, after 
which he employed a coolie to carry the outfit 
down to the spot haunted by the almond-eyed 


40 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


boatman who had taken such a fancy to the 
young chap. 

He glanced out on the harbor, and received a 
shock on making the discovery that the cruiser 
swung her anchor as usual, but the brig had 
gone. Was it then all a cruel dream! Had he 
deceived himself! Could it be there was no 
Captain Baxter, no merry Bob, no gentle, blue- 
eyed Tressie! 

He looked around ruefully enough, almost 
overwhelmed by the seeming disaster, and then 
he suddenly laughed aloud, for his gaze had fal- 
len on the patient coolie, standing there with his 
bundles and awaiting orders. He immediately 
thrust a hand into his trousers pocket and set to 
jingling numerous loose coins there; here was 
demonstrative evidence that the events of the 
preceding night could not have been in the na- 
ture of a dream, for at the time two shillings had 
constituted the total amount of his worldly pos- 
sessions, while now he was rattling more than a 
dozen; and besides, had he not spent half a 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


41 


pound on various articles contained in those 
bundles ? 

The W anderer had changed her anchorage for 
some reason or other, that was all; a common 
occurrence with all vessels in a harbor, and an- 
other scrutiny must disclose her new where- 
abouts. Sure enough, there she lay yonder, 
with her blunt nose pointed seaward, as though 
yearning to once more buffet the great billows 
and plow her way through the foamy waste of 
waters under which some day she might expect 
to find a grave, like most of her kind. 

How fresh everything seemed this morning; 
doubtless there had been others when the breeze 
held just as much ozone and the gulls fluttered 
as gaily over the water, and when the sun shone 
quite as brightly; but Julian thought this out- 
classed everything he could remember since 
striking the old capital of the ^ Chinese coast 
pirates. Of course, it was because his spirits 
ran so high, and he exulted in the good fortune 
that had so suddenly swooped down upon him. 

Kwang was on deck, just as if he never slept, 


42 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


and wlien he saw the bundle which the coolie 
carried to his boat his countenance clouded over, 
for he realized that he was about to lose his 
young friend, who could understand everything 
he said, and make himself plain in return. He 
made slow progress toward the brig and pre- 
tended he was having more or less trouble with 
a villainous tide, when in truth it set in his favor 
pretty much all the way; but Julian understood 
the signs, and, indeed, he, too, was a bit sorry 
over the parting, since the quaint Kwang had 
amused him not a little during their intercourse. 

Julian’s thoughts were principally fixed upon 
what the indefinite future might hold in store for 
him; and as he was both young and in good 
health, it may be safely assumed that where the 
chances might have appeared desperate enough 
to an older person, they were rosy-tinted to such 
a sanguine temperament. 

Approaching the brig, he discovered the flut- 
ter of something white over the rail, and when 
even Kwang laughed he decided that it would 
be better for him to notice and respond to the 


i 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


43 


signal, if such the fluttering kerchief was; so 
he waved in return, and then saw a little fig- 
ure jump down and run toward the .spot where 
they were likely to draw alongside. “I rather 
think Nan and Floy would fancy her,” Julian 
was saying to himself, while he continued to 
shake his signal from time to time in response to 
that which fluttered from the brig. 

When he clambered aboard Boh was also on 
hand to greet him with his warm grip and cheery 
smile. Captain Baxter as seen in broad day- 
light impressed Julian as a character, a typical 
sailor, who had fought against the many perils 
of the mighty deep all his life, and was accus- 
tomed to meeting storm and wreck and mutiny 
with somewhat of a stoical front. 

He shook hands with the new mate, hut it was 
evident that Julian must not expect to shirk any 
of his duties because he had been able to do the 
captain’s daughter a favor. This man was a 
stern disciplinarian, and expected every one on 
board to do his allotted share of the work; the 
man who failed to toe the mark would soon feel 


44 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


the weight of his displeasure, and perhaps his 
heavy fist in the bargain, for he was explosive, 
and unwilling to take any back talk from his 
men. 

When Julian came to survey the crew he no 
longer wondered at what the skipper had said 
concerning them, for certainly never had a more 
rascally-looking assortment gone out of old 
Hongkong harbor. They consisted of the very 
dregs of many nations ; there were Chinese, Jap- 
anese, Malays, Filipinos, Lascars from far-away 
islands of the sea, English, Irish, Dutch and one 
Yankee, the first mate, besides the new second 
mate. 

Julian saw them looking him over with sneer- 
ing faces, as though wondering how such a strip- 
ling could ever take the place of that arrant 
bully, Pandy Crump, whose fist was the size of a 
small ham, and whose nature it had been to en- 
joy a fight better than he did his food. He knew 
he had a tough proposition before him; but 
hoped with the backing of the skipper to come 
out with flying colors. 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


45 


If any of those fellows imagined for a minute 
that the youngster could not give a good account 
of himself when pressed to the wall he made the 
mistake of his life for Julian, as has been said 
before, came of fighting stock, and his own fa- 
ther had gained some renown in the navy during 
the Civil War, while the ancestors of Washing- 
ton^ time were fierce Continentals who shed 
their blood in Monmouth, Valley Forge and in 
camp and battle throughout the whole eight 
years of warfare. Julian believed in going as 
far as any man to keep the peace; but if trouble 
were forced upon him he also knew how to take 
care of himself. 

Once he chanced to notice his good friend 
Kwang Chow in eager conversation with the 
captain who took him down into the stuffy little 
cabin. When the boatman pulled away it was 
without saying good-by to Julian, which the 
other thought rather inconsiderate of him, 
though the subject was speedily dismissed from 
his mind because of his manifold duties. 

It was no sinecure he had taken hold of, and 


46 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


the difficulties multiplied as he came more and 
more in contact with the ugly crew, so that it 
became quite evident that some one must be 
taught a lesson, either by the skipper or him- 
self. Julian was not sure of his ability to 
thrash any one of the unruly spirits with whom 
he expected to be thrown, but he was willing to 
try it if necessary, since kind words went very 
little toward ruling such characters. Captain 
Baxter saw how the situation lay and knew some- 
thing must be done if he wished to get any good 
out of the new mate; so he had Julian in his 
cabin, and insisted that he carry a revolver in 
his hip pocket, where its butt would peep out 
occasionally in a manner more suggestive of 
Wild Western methods than life upon the blue 
sea. 

Later on Julian began to notice quite a radical 
change in the deportment of the crew, for men 
who had been sneering at any order he chose to 
give, now hastened to jump when he sang out, 
and eyed him with curiosity mingled with re- 
spect, all of which was a deep mystery to him, 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


47 


however gratifying the change, until Bob Ket- 
tles let the cat out of the bag. Under the skip- 
per^ orders, it seems, he had circulated among 
the members of the polyglot crew tremendous 
tales regarding the recklessness of the new mate, 
what terrible deeds he had committed, and how 
he was a champion shot with the pistol which he 
always carried about with him. 

The day passed slowly, and as night drew 
near preparations were begun to leave the har- 
bor when one more lighter of goods had been de- 
livered and stowed away. The captain went 
ashore to get his papers cleared, and prepara- 
tions meanwhile continued looking to a speedy 
departure. A thousand lights had sprung into 
existence ashore, until it seemed like a glimpse 
of fairy-land, with moving lanterns on the water 
as boats glided to and fro, now skirting the side 
of the brig or circling around, until at last the 
hail of the skipper’s lusty voice told that the 
hour had come. 


CHAPTER IV. 

DOWN THE CHINESE COAST. 

When the anchor had been “catted,” and the 
Wanderer began to move under the combined 
influence of wind and tide, so that the mystic 
lights of old Hongkong were left astern, Julian, 
having been relieved of his position as officer of 
the deck, leaned over the rail and looked toward 
the slowly receding city. Many thoughts were 
passing through his brain just then, for he be- 
lieved he had arrived at an important epoch in 
his career, the parting of the ways, so to speak, 
and that the immediate future was full of prom- 
ise. Then again, other things interested him. 
He remembered that from this same historical 
harbor Admiral Dewey had sailed, or rather 
steamed with his White Squadron, to search for 
48 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


49 


the Spanish fleet, with orders to sink the same 
when found, which directions he carried out to 
the letter, as the world knows, in Manila Bay. 
He also thought of the new friends whom a kind- 
ly fortune had thrown in his way, and once again 
in his heart thanked his lucky stars for such a 
happening. 

By degrees the vessel distanced the moving 
lights in the harbor, and the possibility of run- 
ning down some wandering sampan whose crew 
might be negligent in the duty of keeping a 
sharp lookout, grew less. 

Somehow, Julian’s thoughts traveled back a 
bit, and he felt a curiosity concerning a native 
boat he had discovered creeping along the side 
of the brig earlier in the evening, just after 
darkness set in. At the time he had shouted to 
the Chinos to sheer off believing they must be 
looking for some rope to purloin, after the 
fashion of their breed, since nothing seems too 
small for the thieves of China and India. He 
wondered whether the coming of the sampan 
could have had any other mission, and then dis- 


50 


ADKIFT ON A JUNK 


missed the thought with a laugh, since stow- 
aways seldom picked out vessels officered by 
such a driver as Baxter was known to he. This 
incident was brought forcibly to his mind later 
on. 

Even at this early stage of the voyage Julian 
understood that there was a fair chance for 
trouble sooner or later with that crew ; their ac- 
tions were suspicious, and the only thing that 
would have any bearing upon the subject of 
peace in the forecastle would be the fear they 
entertained toward Baxter. As for the captain 
himself, he had such utter confidence in his abil- 
ity to subdue the unruly element in any crew, 
that he held their mutterings in contempt, which, 
according to Julian’s philosophy, was not very 
wise of him. 

Long Julian stood there lost in thought, and 
he was aroused finally by a voice at his elbow, 
relating too him in wonderful pidgin-English 
how supper was being served in the cabin. He 
whirled around and was not a little staggered 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


51 


to discover before him tlie sober face of Kwang 
Chow, bis boatman friend of the harbor. 

Strangely enough his first thought was that in 
some remarkable manner, the slant-eyed Celes- 
tial had been carried away to sea against his 
will, for it will be remembered that Julian had 
had some little experience with the press-gang 
in Hongkong, though, of course, it was not 
known under that name, for in these enlightened 
days such a thing as shanghaing is not supposed 
to be practiced anywhere. Then he noticed a 
sly gleam of humor in the corner of Kwang ’s 
eye, or was it about his puckered-up mouth? 
At any rate, the truth flashed upon him, and im- 
pulsively he stuck out his hand toward the Mon- 
golian. 

When a fellow gives up his home and embarks 
upon a ship which is commanded by a captain 
known for his severity, and all because he has 
taken a fancy to you, it matters not that his skin 
is yellow, or even black for that part, the act of 
devotion seems overwhelming; and Julian 
squeezed the slender digits with the long curved 


52 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


nails that advanced to meet his own strong hand, 
with a feeling he did not attempt to disguise. 
Now he understood ail about the conversation 
which Kwang had held with the captain, and 
that the latter had taken him down to the cabin 
in order that he sign the papers after his own 
fashion. 

Kwang Chow was to assist the cook and wait 
upon the table, besides doing a multitude of 
other things in an emergency. 4 4 You come 
aboard with captain'?” Julian asked, for at the 
time he had chanced to be busy in another sec- 
tion and therefore failed to witness the arrival 
of Baxter. 

Kwang replied in the affirmative, which set- 
tled that question, though it did not relieve 
Julian’s mind concerning the designs of those 
in the sampan that had scraped along the entire 
length of the brig. 

It was cheery enough in the cabin, and the 
captain seemed in a fair humor now that his 
troubles were over, and cargo and clearance 
papers had been closed for a season at least. 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


53 


Bob was as full of humor as ever, and even 
Tressie seemed desirous of adding to the gaiety 
of the occasion, for her blue eyes fairly scin- 
tillated with roguishness and she turned from 
one to another at the table with jokes and ques- 
tions, keeping them in an uproar. 

It seemed very pleasant to our young friend, 
and he did not care how long the conditions con- 
tinued, though at times he experienced some 
qualms of conscience when he remembered the 
vow he had taken concerning the finding out of 
the truth about his lost parent ; but, then, he had 
in a measure decided Captain Baxter was right 
in the plan he had advocated and that the end 
would be achieved sooner if he set to work and 
earned enough money to hire a small vessel, in 
which a cruise along the coast might be made, 
thus searching closely, where under his former 
plan he would have to make only a superficial 
examination. His quarters aboard were fairly 
comfortable, though lacking in every luxury to 
which he might have been accustomed at home, 
where he had been somewhat spoiled by a fond 


54 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


mother and two doting sisters; but then a sen- 
sible lad is able and willing to put up with con- 
siderable in the line of roughing it, and even 
calls it a frolic, so that Julian determined he had 
no cause for complaint, and took things as they 
came with his usual good nature. 

Under a nice wind they made fair progress 
during the whole night, and as he took his watch 
on deck Julian felt that he could congratulate 
himself on carrying out his part of the program 
with fair success ; there seemed to be no reason 
why he should not, when he had been accustomed 
to boats since “knee-high to a duck,” as he used 
to declare, and the duties of a mate were not in 
the least mysterious to him. 

The crew still ogled him strangely, and 
jumped nervously whenever he spoke sharply, 
though he could not understand why this should 
be, or why each and every man who came near 
him kept such close watch on his actions, as if 
ready to cut and run for it. Indeed, he was sore 
amazed, when, taking one fellow to task because 
of some lubberly method of accomplishing a 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


55 


duty at which he had been engaged, and uncon- 
sciously placing a hand behind him to draw out 
his red bandana handkerchief, he heard the 
blunderer give a screech as of actual bona-fide 
terror, and plunging backward, disappear in 
the darkness of the forward deck. It was all 
veiy well to have the respect of those who 
worked under him; but somehow Julian did not 
feel entirely at his ease with borrowed plumes, 
for he considered that sooner or later the truth 
would be made manifest, or some situation arise 
whereby he must prove his right to the title of a 
bully, or let the crew walk over him. 

With the rising of the sun the scene was a 
charming one to a soul that loved marine pic- 
tures as did Julian. The waves glistened in the 
sunlight, as their crests broke into foam under 
the lively breeze that was now blowing, a troop 
of porpoises gamboled around the plunging 
brig, convoying her on her way to the south as 
though really enjoying the race through the 
green waters, while far away could be seen a 
low-lying stretch looking like a cloud upon the 


56 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


horizon, which Julian knew must be the coast of 
China, back of which lay such wonders as few 
eyes had ever gazed upon; temples, bazars, 
kiosks, palaces, markets where the strange prod- 
ucts of the Orient were for sale, wide rice or 
paddy fields, with qaint natives working in the 
mud the live-long day, millions of toiling people, 
dressed in costumes that seemed better fitted for 
the comic opera stage than real life, pagodas 
filled with all the elements of superstition and 
idolatry. 

The day passed without any trouble on board, 
though to Julian it was evident that there was 
something brewing, if he could judge from the 
way in which members of the crew got their 
heads together on the slightest provocation, and 
seemed to be indulging in mysterious consulta- 
tions. They performed their allotted tasks, but 
with a sullenness that was not pleasant to see, 
and which must have annoyed as well as alarmed 
most captains; yet when the second mate ven- 
tured to hint at such a thing as trouble, he was 
brought up with a round turn by Captain Bax- 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


57 


ter, who gave him to understand he was running 
that ship, and when he wanted any advice from 
boys he would ask for it. 

After that rebuff Julian decided to hold his 
tongue, and simply keep his eyes open for 
breakers. It worried him to think of Tressie 
exposed to the anger of those ruffians, and yet 
he could not but notice how the little tyrant even 
ruled in a measure over the rough crew. The 
scowl would leave a dark face when she drew 
near, and in more than one instance he saw a 
fellow who looked only fit to grace the gallows, 
jump to do some little act of courtesy for the 
child. While wondering at the power she 
seemed to exercise over their rough natures, it 
never occurred to Julian that sooner or later 
this very same influence might be the means of 
saving human lives from the fury of tigerish 
dispositions broken loose from all restraint. 

Captain Baxter builded better than he knew 
when he consented to take this sunny-faced 
daughter with him on his last trip along the 
China coast; for the disaster that befell the good 


58 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


brig Wanderer would have been of a far more 
tragic nature had she not been on board. 

Julian was very careful not to arouse the 
hatred of the crew against him, and when he 
could do so without interfering with the dis- 
cipline set by the captain, he made things as 
easy for them as possible, knowing what a dog’s 
life a sailor leads at the best. Some of them 
noticed this, and began to have a warm feeling 
toward the mate, which fact later on he had 
cause to remember with gratitude, since it was 
the means of saving his life. 

At this time of year typhoons might be looked 
for on short notice, and every manner who left 
port took all precautions against being over- 
whelmed by these terrors of the China Sea. Be- 
cause Julian had never experienced one, was no 
reason why he should not entertain respect for 
their power, as storms were pretty much alike in 
all parts of the world, and he was of the opinion 
that none could excel a West Indian hurricane 
fresh from the Windward Islands, and whirling 
up the Golf Stream with a velocity of about a 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


59 


hundred miles an hour. He had been caught in 
a blow of this nature, and thought he knew some- 
thing about gales. These typhoons had many 
peculiarities of their own that never fail to 
strike terror to the hearts of those who find them- 
selves and vessels at the mercy of the furious 
blast, with a cruel lee shore thrusting out its 
rocky fangs in eager anticipation of finishing 
their career. 

It may be readily understood that Captain 
Baxter kept an eye on the barometer, and his 
anxiety concerning the weather was far greater 
than any thought he gave the crew or the chances 
of a mutiny. All that day it continued fair, and 
the following night was a glorious one, the air 
being cool and delightful; hut with the advent 
of another sun there came a change which wor- 
ried the skipper, for a heaviness seemed to tell 
of gathering winds sucking all the life out of the 
atmosphere, and sooner or later he knew the 
storm was bound to burst upon them; it might 
be delayed even for days by circumstances, but 


60 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


it surely must come. Julian also kept tab on 
the glass, but as yet there did not seem to be 
anything serious threatening them. His exper- 
ience in these treacherous seas was of short dur- 
ation, and he could not read the signs in the sky 
like an ancient mariner of Baxter’s style. 

Things were growing worse forward, since the 
men openly grumbled over the tasks which the 
captain insisted upon ; they wanted only an ex- 
cuse to break out in open mutiny, and in such 
cases it is never difficult to find one. 

Baxter was irritable, and when one of the 
hybrid mariners openly mouthed some order he 
received, in an insulting way, the hot-blooded 
skipper laid him out on the deck with one 
straight blow from his sledge-hammer fist. It 
was the only thing to do under the circumstances 
and Julian who had witnessed the act, secretly 
applauded it, knowing that if overlooked the in- 
sult would be repeated on every hand ; yet he at 
the same time deplored the necessity for such 
stern measures, and as the ruffian was led away 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


61 


by some of his fellows, he saw looks exchanged 
that convinced him the time was near at hand 
for the suppressed forces to break forth just as 
a smouldering volcano does. 


CHAPTER Y. 

THE MUTINEERS HAVE THEIR INNING. 

The night came on dark as Egypt, yet there 
were stars blinking in the great dome overhead, 
and the barometer did not indicate a speedy ad- 
vent of the expected typhoon. 

Julian was very uneasy, though he could not 
have really explained the reasons for this had 
he been put upon the witness stand; he seemed 
to have an intuition that danger hung over the 
craft, but then sailors as a rule are superstitious, 
and he chided himself for allowing such notions 
to have dominion over him. And yet he noticed 
that neither Bob nor the girl seemed in their 
usual merry moods at supper, though possibly 
it was the crossness of the skipper that in- 
fluenced them. 

While his watch lasted Julian saw nothing 
62 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


63 


amiss, save that the men continued to clap their 
heads together whenever an opportunity arose, 
as though in mutual confidence they could holster 
up each other’s courage. Tired as he was, he 
threw himself into his hunk, having surrendered 
the deck to Mr. Atkins, the first mate, who was a 
quiet, undemonstrative individual, well up in 
his duties, hut not to he counted on as a factor in 
the game if the crew mutinied against the cap- 
tain, who would have to hear the hrunt of the 
blow on his own shoulders. 

Julian fell asleep almost the moment his head 
touched the pillow, for it had been a trying day 
in many ways, and he had been cheated out of 
several hours ’ slumber on the previous night, be- 
cause his brain persisted in working and con- 
juring up all manner of ridiculous things not 
likely to happen to mariners in these latter days. 

He never knew how long he remained in this 
deep sleep, or what it was that aroused him ; at 
the moment he fancied he had heard a shout of 
alarm, or the report of a gun, so that he raised 
himself on his elbow, and with wildly beating 


64 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


heart listened for a repetition; but nothing 
reached his ear save the gurgle of the water that 
raced along the side of the brig close by his 
bunk, and then he decided that after all it must 
have been the result of a dream. Yet when he 
lay down again to woo gentle slumber, he found 
that his heart was still beating like a trip-ham- 
mer, and the same old array of miserable antic- 
ipations of trouble were surging through his 
brain. 

So far as he could tell from the motions of the 
vessel they were booming along at a lively clip, 
and there was no indication of a storm. 

Just when he was beginning to drop off again, 
he experienced another shock as he became con- 
scious that some person was fumbling at the 
door of his little den, called by grace a state 
room. This time Julian sat up and listened. 
Could it be that one of the crew had come to 
murder him because of his terrible reputation as 
given out by that prank-loving Bob? Had the 
mutiny broken out, and had the sound that 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


65 


aroused him before been the report of the cap- 
tain’s revolver? 

The door opened, and he could hear some one 
breathing hard, though not a thing could he see, 
strain his eyes as he might. He had uncon- 
sciously reached for the weapon which he kept 
under his pillow while he slept, and the touch of 
this inspired him with new confidence, for he felt 
that at least he had the means of defending him- 
self if it came to the worst. 

“Who is it? Stand where you are!” he ex- 
claimed, and if there was a little quaver in his 
voice it was not to he wondered at. 

“Julian!” came in a hoarse whisper, and he 
seemed to divine almost instantly that it was 
none other than Bob who spoke. 

“Hello! What’s up?” demanded the second 
mate, vastly relieved to find that he did not have 
a Kanaka assassin to deal with. 

Bob was blockading the door with the only 
thing his groping hands could discover, and 
which chanced to be a chair Julian had borrowed 
froift the cabin, though its presence made mov- 


66 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


ing about in his den almost impossible. “It’s 
happened, ’ ’ whispered Bob, in the same strained 
tone, just as though he entertained a deadly fear 
lest some listening ear might catch what he said. 

Julian guessed the rest. 4 ‘Is it mutiny V 9 he 
asked, trying to control his voice, for poor Boh 
seemed so entirely broken up that it was really 
necessary one of them should be equal to the oc- 
casion. 

“Yes; the men have taken possession of the 
ship,” was what Bob said in reply. 

“That is terrible news. What of Captain 
Baxter? Have they murdered him?” the sec- 
ond mate asked, as he slid from the bunk, still 
gripping the weapon, though in all probability 
he hardly knew he had it in his hand. 

“I don’t know, but something has happened 
to him, for I saw the men carry him forward.” 

‘ ‘ To throw him overboard ? 9 9 gasped the other, 
quivering with excitement. 

“No; though they may do that yet, if the hot- 
heads prevail ; but they took him down into the 
fo ’castle, where I guess they’ve tied him tight 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


67 


enough. Atkins wasn’t on deck, and I’m afraid 
he’s either dead or a prisoner, too. I had an 
awful experience, Julian, and it’s no wonder I’m 
shivering. 

‘ ‘ Tell me what happened, ’ ’ said the other, lay- 
ing his hand on Bob’s arm, as if to reassure the 
English lad. 

“Ugh ! You see, I thought I heard an outcry, 
and, crawling out, made my way to the deck, 
wondering what it meant; everything seemed 
quiet enough there, although I noticed that 
neither Mr. Atkins nor the captain was in sight. 
Then, as I walked along I suddenly slipped and 
sat down. It wasn’t a lurch of the old wind- 
jammer that upset me, either, hut something 
slippery on the deck, something that I felt with 
my hand, and when I got up and ran over to the 
binnacle light to look, I found it was blood!” 

“Gee !” ejaculated Julian, thrilled by the hor- 
ror of it all. 

“Then I knew something had happened, and 
I began to shake like everything, and wonder 
what I should do; when I saw four of the crew 


68 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


come along carrying an object between ’em, 
which turned out to be the captain. First, I 
thought he was dead, but when I saw they’d 
wrapped a rope around him I knew different, 
and that he was their prisoner. After that I 
thought of you, and managed to creep here with- 
out them seeing me. That’s all.” 

It was quite enough for Julian, who did not 
think to take any satisfaction in the fact, that he 
had turned out a better prophet than the skip- 
per. “What ought we to do?” he said, trying 
to turn matters over in his mind in the danger 
that confronted them, and which was by long 
odds the most serious that had as yet cropped up 
in the course of his life. 

‘ ‘ Sure, I hardly know ; here we are, two boys 
against twelve big scoundrels, who would think 
nothing of eating us up like the giants of old. 
What can we do? You’re the best to take 
charge, and I’m willing to try and carry out any- 
thing you say, only do be careful, Julian, for 
they’ll throw us overboard to the sharks if we 
get licked. ’ ’ 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


69 


“If we could only get him loose,” said the 
other, slowly, as if thinking of some desperate 
plan. 

“The captain, you mean; well, perhaps we 
may before the morning. Do you think they’ll 
hurt Tressie?” 

Julian gave a cry. He had quite forgotten 
the presence of the girl on board the craft, and 
at thought of any one offering to injure a hair 
of her pretty head he shut his teeth hard and 
clutched his weapon savagely. “They’d better 
not, that’s all; but where is she? Perhaps she 
heard that shout and outcry, too, and is now 
crying in her little cabin. Come, we must go to 
her, no matter what happens. ’ ’ 

“You’re right, old fellow; if I only had some- 
thing in the shape of a weapon I ’d be better sat- 
isfied ; but once in the cabin, I know where I can 
lay my hands on a Malay kriss or two he has on 
the wall. Go on.” 

Now, it might be supposed that, as Bob had 
been a year or two on board the Wanderer and 
wa§, familiar with every inch of the brig, he 


70 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


would have taken it upon himself to have acted 
the part of guide; hut instead he yielded that 
post of honor most readily to his holder com- 
panion; besides, in an affair of this nature the 
second mate was better calculated to lead than a 
mere ship’s clerk or purser, he thought. 

It was with considerable anxiety and not a lit- 
tle trembling through excitement that J ulian led 
the way to the cabin. How were they to know 
what the bold plans of the mutineers might be, 
and that they would not find some of the crew 
waiting to receive them with knife or bludgeon 
as they pushed in at the cabin door? But they 
met with no one between Julian’s den and the 
little cabin, where Captain Baxter and his 
daughter had their state rooms. 

In the cabin a swinging lamp gave a subdued 
light, and when Julian had given a swift look 
around without discovering anything suspicious, 
he gave a sigh of relief, which was echoed by the 
lad at his heels, for neither was spoiling for a 
fight. 

Just then the door of a state room opened 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


71 


cautiously, and a little head of golden hair 
peeped out. On seeing them, Tressie hastened 
to come forth, and hurried to their side with a 
look of fear on her pretty face that quite upset 
Julian. “Oh, what dreadful thing has hap- 
pened. I was awakened by such a noise; I 
thought the ship must surely he sinking, and I Ve 
been lying in my bunk trying to say my pray- 
ers ever since. Just now it dawned on me that 
this could not be what was happening, and I be- 
gan to fear other dreadful things when I looked 
out and saw you. Tell me, where is papa?” 
she demanded. 

It was useless trying to conceal the true state 
of affairs from her, and she had proven herself 
so courageous on other occasions that they had 
hopes of her being able to overcome the natural 
terror that must assail her heart when she 
learned of her father’s peril. So Julian told 
her, trying to soften the blow as much as possi- 
ble ; and his judgment in the matter was good, 
for in a few minutes Tressie had recovered from 
the shock, and told them not to worry about her, 


72 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


but that if slie could assist in any way to let her 
know; which Julian thought was very brave of 
the little woman. 

Meanwhile, Bob had managed to shut and fas- 
ten the cabin door. It was not a very stout one, 
and could hardly make an effective resistance 
should the mutineers endeavor to force it with 
beams; but the fact of even a frail barrier be- 
tween those fierce men and themselves was re- 
assuring. After doing this in the line of defense 
Bob began to look around for some manner of 
weapon, and was presently loading himself 
down with a remarkable collection of Asiatic 
swords and daggers, taken from a prize assort- 
ment that the captain had picked up during his 
memorable cruises, and which up to now deco- 
rated the walls of the little saloon. There were 
the steel blades of Arabs, Moors, Hindoos, Ma- 
lays, Chinese, not even forgetting the Filipino 
bolo, of which our boys in khaki learned so much 
during the late unpleasantness in the Far East. 

Bob was greedy, and filled his belt so full 
with these aggressive instruments intended for 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


73 


agonizing deeds that he reminded his friend of a 
Kurdish brigand or a Persian freebooter. In- 
deed, there was always more or less danger that 
he would trip, through the very weight of his 
armament, and fall foul of some among the 
sharp points. Of firearms they found none, and 
if a supply existed on board for emergencies of 
this character, the secret hiding-place remained 
with the captain. 

And now sounds began to float down to them 
that were full of significance ; loud shouts, heavy 
laughter, and even snatches of ribald song, 
proving that the search for strong drink had 
met with more or less success, as there were 
casks of liquor in the hold consigned to some 
business house in Singapore, and of which the 
crew were aware, having assisted in its storage. 

This made the affair doubly grave, as Julian 
well knew, having seen something of the effect 
of brandy upon the human race. He found his 
fears increasing now, rather than diminishing, 
for while these fellows might hesitate when 
sober, there was no limit to their deviltry as the 


74 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


fumes of liquor ascended to their brains ; so that 
he feared the outlook for Captain Baxter was 
had, unless something could be done to rescue 
him before the humor to slay came upon the 
mutineers. 

There was a skylight in the ceiling of the cabin 
to admit light and air, and it was through this 
opening the sounds floated down to them. While 
they stood there debating as to what would he 
their best move under the circumstances, Boh 
suddenly clutched the arm of his friend in a 
fierce clasp. 

“Hark! As sure as I live, that’s the laugh 
of our old enemy, Mate Pandy, and we left him 
in Hongkong, too. This is awful strange. 
How’d he get here?” he said, and while Julian 
also recognized the deep-toned boom of the 
giant’s merry laugh, he was not quite so igno- 
rant as to how the scoundrel had come aboard 
the Wanderer , for it flashed upon him then and 
there what the mission of the sampan had been, 
when it brushed along the side of the brig in the 
harbor of Hongkong. 


CHAPTEK VI. 

SENT ADRIFT IN A YAWL. 

The presence of the ex-mate on hoard gave 
Julian considerable uneasiness, for he believed 
their situation to be rendered more desperate 
on that account. It was easy to understand how 
this same Pandy had been secreted by members 
of the crew in sympathy with his designs, and 
that he had fomented the present trouble. Per- 
haps it had been his brutal hand that had struck 
the skipper down unawares; for so great was 
the fear and respect felt toward Captain Baxter 
that no man on board dared face him in anger, 
and it stood to reason that he had been caught in 
ambush. 

That night would never he forgotten by any 
of the trio. From time to time they saw dark 
faces leering at them through the open skylight, 

" 75 


76 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


and finally, at the wish of the girl, the light was 
extinguished, so that they crouched in the gloom, 
listening to the sounds that rose and fell on the 
night air, as the riotous crew made merry for- 
ward. 

As Tressie refused to re-enter her state room, 
Julian, with the assistance of Boh, managed to 
fashion a cot out of some downy pillows, upon 
which she could recline. She had vowed she 
could not sleep a wink the whole blessed night, 
but when later on Julian crept over to the cor- 
ner, whispered her name, and she made no reply, 
he knew that tired nature had claimed her even 
against her despotic will. This pleased him 
more than a little, and he went back to his task 
of listening close beside the door, with a lighter 
heart. 

Several times he felt certain he had heard 
some one moving just beyond, and once a hand 
had gently tried the door, whereat Julian’s heart 
began to beat like a trip-hammer in his bosom. 
Thinking the decisive hour had arrived, he 
aroused Bob, who had also fallen into a doze; 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


77 


but, to his surprise, there followed no assault 
upon their frail barricade, and the minutes 
passed without further alarm. 

By degrees the noise and confusion seemed to 
die out, and he could imagine that the mutineers 
were one by one dropping off, as a result of 
their frequent potations. This gave birth to a 
bold idea concerning the possible rescue of Cap- 
tain Baxter and the first mate. What was to 
hinder him slipping out and reconnoitering 
while the majority of the crew lay in their 
drunken slumbers! He talked it over with Bob 
in whispers, so as not to disturb the girl, and 
found that the English boy commended the 
scheme, though frankly confessing that he him- 
self lacked the nerve to carry it out. 

When Julian finally found himself outside the 
cabin door, and fully embarked on his exploring 
expedition, he summoned all his resolution to 
the fore in order that he might not ruin every- 
thing through silly trembling. Fortunately, he 
was fairly endowed by a kindly nature with the 
commodity known under the name of nerve, and 


78 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


in numerous past instances when on hunting 
trips had proven his ability to meet danger 
boldly. He listened until he made sure that 
Boh had refastened the door securely, and re- 
lieved of this anxiety, started toward the com- 
panionway, intending to creep on deck, if the 
route was clear. 

As he thrust his head above the deck line and 
glanced eagerly around, he found that the stars 
still shone above, and the anticipated storm 
seemed as far away as before. “It must be far 
on toward morning,” he thought, and his eyes 
sought the east as if to discover some faint trace 
of dawn there ; but the time had not yet come for 
that. Higher still he pushed himself, for the 
decks seemed deserted, save for the silent fig- 
ure at the wheel, whose form he could just dimly 
discern, outlined against the starry dome low 
down near the horizon. 

Presently Julian was crawling along over the 
deck, careful not to make the least sound that 
could attract attention, and aiming to reach the 
forward part of the vessel in order to discover 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


79 


what they had done with the officers. Not all of 
the crew were drunk, that was certain, for he 
heard voices near by, and found that the watch 
had crouched down out of the wind, and were 
engaged in a discussion concerning the disposal 
of the cargo when a division had been effected. 

Julian could not pass them in order to enter 
the forecastle, since they simply blocked the 
way, and disheartened at the meager success at- 
tending his efforts in the skipper’s behalf, he 
could only crawl up a little closer and listen to 
what they said, in the vague hope that at least it 
might remove the badge of secrecy concerning 
what had befallen the two officers. 

He was surprised to learn that these fellows 
were not quite as bloodthirsty as he had pic- 
tured them. Already several began to show 
signs of weakening, for the reward of mutiny is 
generally so swift and painful these days, that 
few mariners care to put their necks in a hemp- 
en collar; and Julian was convinced that hut for 
the influence which the ex-mate had upon his 
fellows, the uprising would never have taken 


80 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


place. Still, since they were now in for it, they 
seemed determined to profit by the adventure, 
and have the game as well as the name. Thus 
they talked of many schemes whereby the cargo 
might he disposed of, some of which were so la- 
mentably weak they were hooted down at the 
start, while others seemed to present certain 
features that appealed to the majority, and were 
accordingly taken under advisement. 

At length to the satisfaction of the listener, 
who cocked his ears eagerly to catch every 
breath, mention was made of the prisoners, and 
this fact alone told him the captain and mate 
were alive. Again various ideas were advanced 
in connection with the best way of getting rid of 
those whose presence on hoard was a constant 
menace to the success of their unlawful schemes. 
One or two proposed making them walk the 
plank after the good old fashion set by Captain 
Kidd and those gay early freebooters, and it 
made Julian’s blood run cold to hear these ras- 
cals eagerly avow what benefits must follow the 
positive annihilation of those they feared; but 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


8 ] 


there were others who declared such a policy 
not according to their fancy, and that a man of 
the skipper’s boldness at least deserved a chance 
for his life. They were advocates of sending 
him adrift in a boat, though with a storm in pros- 
pect Julian could not for the life of him see 
where the mercy of this business came in. 
There were some sea-lawyers among the hands, 
and they argued the case pro and con, though it 
became evident that those who were bent on the 
plank-walking affair found themselves out- voted 
by the advocates of the more lingering fate. 
But Julian was warned by the gray of dawn in 
the sky to return to the cabin lest daylight re- 
veal him to the mutineers. Luckily he suc- 
ceeded. 

Gently knocking he attracted the attention of 
the sentry, and having convinced the cautious 
Bob that he was worthy of admittance, Julian 
was allowed to pass beyond the portal. Hardly 
had he done so, and before Bob could even make 
the door fast again, than eager little hands had 
seized upon his sleeve, and the voice of Tressie 


82 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


begged to know what he had learned concerning 
her papa, proving that after all the girl may not 
have been so fast asleep as the young guardians 
had supposed. How gladly would Julian have 
given her joyful news. Yet after all, it was bet- 
ter than if the skipper had been killed. He con- 
cluded to say nothing at present concerning the 
fate to which Baxter and his mate were doomed, 
since it could not do Tressie any good, and she 
would know all when the mutineers began their 
work. 

Julian was not at all sharp-set concerning 
breakfast, for a night without sleep does not as 
a usual thing arouse one’s appetite; but there 
was Boh who never knew the time he was not 
hungry, rummaging around to ascertain what 
he could find in the shape of biscuits and such 
dainties as the skipper cared to keep under lock 
and key near his own quarters. There was 
plenty and to spare, such as it was, and they 
sat down to eat. Tressie nibbled at her food, 
nor could Julian find cause to blame the poor 
girl, since the father she loved was a prisoner 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


83 


in the hands of unscrupulous men who might 
think it best to put him out of the way so that 
he could not appear in evidence against them at 
some future date when they were accused of 
wrong doing. The thought made our young 
friend realize that they were one and all in the 
same boat, so far as this was concerned, and 
might be deemed dangerous witnesses. Some- 
hbw he dreaded the awakening of the giant ex- 
mate. 

They could hear much tramping overhead, as 
though the men were engaged in their customary 
duties, and it seemed strange not to catch the 
usual cries of the officer of the deck directing 
their actions. Then the brig was hove-to and 
rose and fell upon the waves like a vast cork. 

Julian knew something was about to happen, 
and after what he had heard while crouching 
near the watch he could give a pretty fair guess 
as to its nature. 

“I declare; they’re lowering a boat,” said 
Bob, in a whisper. 

'That was just what the other believed, and he 


84 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


knew -or what purpose it was intended. At 
least he hoped the men would be considerate 
enough to place a hag of biscuits and a cask of 
water in the little craft, ere launching the two 
officers upon their desperate cruise. 

He and Bob stood by the small openings that 
served as windows, and which could be closely 
secured in a storm the same as an ordinary 
bull’s-eye. Tressie was busy with the table 
where they had partaken of their limited break- 
fast, and Julian hoped she would not be at- 
tracted toward their quarters until the whole 
thing had passed. It would be bad enough to 
tell her without the sad event happening under 
her very eyes. 

Listening intently they could manage to catch 
some of the words spoken on deck. Pandy was 
there as big as life, bossing things with a high 
hand, and gloating over the misery of the man 
who had knocked him down once upon a time. 
Occasionally they caught the sound of Captain 
Baxter’s voice, but it had a ring of defiance 
about it, rather than entreaty, for the old skip- 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


85 


per was made like iron, and conld stand hard 
knocks with the stoicism of a red Indian at the 
stake. If he thought of his child at this critical 
period in his career, he must have confided her 
to the care of a power that was greater than any 
earthly guardian. Finally loud- laughter, ac- 
companied by jeers and cat-calls announced that 
the embarkation had been effected, though as 
yet they could not catch even a glimpse of the 
boat or its wretched occupants. 

Orders were roared forth in the brazen tones 
of the new skipper, and the immediate creaking 
of blocks as the crew fell to work, told that the 
voyage was to he resumed— the voyage that was 
to end, no mortal could now say where. As the 
brig swung around with the wind filling her can- 
vas, and once more began to plow her way 
through the waves, the action brought the cast- 
off yawl under the observation of the hoys, who 
noted the presence of two figures in it, already 
busily engaged in hoisting the small sail. 

And even while they looked compassionately 
on the twain thus sent upon their hazardous way, 


86 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


at Julian’s shoulder there broke forth a shrill 
shriek as Tressie caught sight of her father. 
The sound must have reached him for he waved 
his arm, and then clasped his hands, as though 
invoking Heaven’s blessing on the child; then 
the yawl dipped into the hollow of the waves, 
and a swing of the brig, darting on her new 
course, shut the view forever from their eyes; 
and Julian was just in time to catch the falling 
form of the fainting girl in his arms. 


CHAPTER VII. 

THE TYPHOON ARRIVES ON TIME. 

It was some time before Tressie recovered, 
and then only after Bob bad trickled cold water 
upon her face. The boys tried to comfort her 
with snch assurances as they could manufacture, 
though both realized how slender the chances 
were that Captain Baxter and Mr. Atkins would 
either make land or run across some friendly 
vessel before the typhoon came. One never 
fully realizes how vast the ocean is until he is 
cast away on it and searches the watery horizon 
for a sail. 

Their own situation was one of double peril, 
and it required considerable thought on the part 
of the boys to arrange any sort of a plan ; for at 
every sound they fully expected the mutineers 
were coming to force the door and make them 

" 87 


88 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


prisoners, perhaps to consign them to the same 
fate that had been meted ont to the captain, or 
something even worse, should the more desper- 
ate element have gained control. The morning 
passed without an alarm, showing that those 
whom they had good reason to fear were too 
busily engaged in examining and gloating over 
the spoils they had won, to think of wasting time 
with other matters. Julian hoped they might 
he kept busy, though the end seemed inevitable. 

He noticed that Tressie went to the opening a 
dozen times and looked out upon the tumbling 
waters. Poor child ! It was not difficult to un- 
derstand what was in her mind, and how she 
wondered as to the fate of the dear father thus 
sent adrift. She was a sailor’s daughter, and 
accustomed to facing dangers of the deep, so 
that a storm in itself had little terror for her; 
but it was quite a different matter when a loved 
one was in a shell of a yawl, and only two pairs 
of hands manage it. Julian himself felt that 
the chances of poor Baxter coming out of the ad- 
venture alive were exceedingly slim— indeed, 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


89 


for that matter, so were their own, according to 
the way things looked, even if they did have a 
stannch vessel nnder them, against which many 
a hurricane had beat in vain. 

By noon there was a change outside, which 
Julian noted with apprehension. The heavens 
had clouded over, and an ugly pall hung over 
the sea while the wind came no longer in steady 
and refreshing draughts, but with hot puffs, as 
though from a furnace. Bob knew full well 
what this meant from experience, even as his 
companion did through general observation. 
The typhoon, most dreaded of all storms, was 
about to burst upon them; and probably ere 
nightfall they would he in the grasp of a twister, 
hurled this way and that, pounded by savage 
seas and buried at times under their avalanche 
of foam-tossed water. Under such conditions 
it behooved the new skipper to be alert, for 
should he allow strong drink to befuddle his wits 
in the least, there would be small chance of the 
Wanderer surviving the tempest. That was 
why Julian worried now. 


90 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


Tressie did not appear to be in the least con- 
cerned over their condition, all of her sympathy 
going out toward the parent whom she feared 
she had set eyes on for the last time; though 
Julian feared the same doom was about to over- 
whelm the brig and all on board. 

About the middle of the afternoon the wind 
broke loose, and shrieked about the cordage of 
the vessel like a legion of fiends brought from 
below. Once in a while keen ears could detect 
shouts from the deck which reassured our 
alarmed friends a little, since it told them the 
crew had been on the alert, and were not caught 
napping by the storm. Indeed, Julian knew this 
from the time the gale broke upon them, for had 
it been otherwise they must have perished in the 
first onslaught. 

The brig held up gallantly, and had Captain 
Baxter been on deck to give orders perhaps 
they would have weathered it in fair shape, but 
Mate Pandy, while good in his way, was not 
the equal of the old skipper, and sooner or later 
might make a blunder that would overwhelm 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


91 


them with disaster. Night fell amid such riot- 
ous scenes as Julian had certainly never before 
beheld; even his boasted West Indian hurricane 
must take a back seat after this experience. A 
dozen times he felt certain they were over- 
whelmed, and a spasm of dreadful alarm would 
seize upon his heart, for he was only a boy, after 
all, and life held much that was sweet to him. 
Twice, at least, he heard the crash of falling 
spars and knew that the wretched brig was be- 
ing dismembered of her upper works, for she 
commenced to show a difference in her move- 
ments, wallowing in the seas like a great whale, 
having lost much of her buoyancy with a great 
sea-anchor dragging aft. 

Few vessels could have stood the pounding 
thus received and Julian gave the old Wanderer 
credit for being what she was— a well-built ship. 
Once he had opened the cabin door and made 
his way to the deck, but he found such utter 
chaos reigning there that he came back, resolved 
to meet whatever was impending in the company 
of the others ; and when Bob and Tressie noted 


92 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


his white face in the light of the lamp which they 
contrived to keep burning, the hope which they 
had cherished flickered and went out, for they 
realized that their chances were not one in a 
thousand. 

Julian believed he lived years that horrible 
night. Again and again he shook his watch and 
held it to his ear, thinking it must have stopped, 
so slowly did the seconds turn into minutes and 
the latter crawl around to hours. When the 
faint streak of dawn did creep athwart the hori- 
zon, what a scene it disclosed to the young eyes 
that looked so eagerly for signs of hope; the 
massive waves towered mountain high, rolling 
and pitching as far as eye could see; and the 
brig, swept of her masts and spars, lay like a 
log in the midst of this waste of waters. 

All that day they were the sport of wind and 
wave, and knew not what moment might he their 
last; so that though Julian slept from sheer ex- 
haustion, it was only to start up wildly when 
some unusually severe lurch of the wreck seem- 
ed to indicate their last minute had arrived. 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


93 


And now another night stretched ont before 
them, with all its attendant horrors. Julian 
again crept out of the cabin to ascertain just 
what their chances might he, and if possible win 
some measure of sympathy from such of the 
crew as might have been saved from being 
swept overboard. Never had human eyes gazed 
upon a more heart-breaking sight than that he 
found himself confronted with upon gaining the 
deck, after bursting open the door at the head 
of the companionway; the wreckage had been 
pretty well torn from time to time, assisted 
doubtless by axes in the hands of the sailors, hut 
enough still dragged from the stubby how of the 
brig to keep her head into the seas, which had 
been the only thing that kept her from broach- 
ing-to long since, and foundering. 

He found a drenched member of the crew 
tied to a stanchion, though what good he was 
doing in his exposed position, save that he might 
give warning to his fellows below if the worst 
came, Julian could not for the life of him see; 
but he managed to exchange some sentences 


94 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


with the fellow ere being chased back by an in- 
coming sea. What he learned was not the most 
hopeful of news, for half of the crew had gone 
over in the many furious breaches of the sea, 
and the balance cowered under the hatches be- 
lieving their time was only a matter of hours or 
minutes. Surely no help could be expected from 
this quarter, since the men were in a panic, and 
at such times it becomes every one for himself. 
Little they cared now what became of the cap- 
tain’s daughter, and, as for the two lads, let 
them take their chances. 

Julian came back secretly discouraged, though 
he made out to appear a little more cheerful, 
hoping to dispel some of the gloom that had 
settled down upon the occupants of the cabin; 
but he could not deceive the bright eyes of the 
girl, though she understood his generous motive. 
Even impending death may l.ose some of its ter- 
rors by familiarity, and as they had been worn 
out by their long vigil, the three prisoners in 
the cabin fell asleep before the night was many 
hours old, nor did the most violent tossing of 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


95 


the ill-fated bark serve to startle them from 
their heavy slumber. 

When Julian opened his eyes he was puzzled 
to find that darkness had given place to day- 
light. Then they still floated, and another night 
had passed, with all its attendant horrors. His 
heart throbbed with thanksgiving because of 
the mercies thus bestowed; and what gave him 
still deeper cause for satisfaction was the fact 
that while the poor old W anderer tossed up and 
down almost as furiously as ever, the roar of the 
tempest was lacking. 

With a new hope struggling in his heart 
Julian sprang to his feet, and hurried across 
the cabin to one of the bullseye windows. 

What he saw brought a cry of pleasure to his 
lips, for the clouds were broken and signs of 
sunrise began to appear. The typhoon had 
passed over in half the time usually taken by 
such a hurricane, and by degrees the sea was 
going down. What of the brig! There was 
that in the sluggishness of her roll that told 
Julian plainly enough how water-logged she had 


96 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


become through the straining received in the 
storm, after her masts went by the board and her 
seams were opened. He knew she could not 
hold out a great while longer, and that in all 
probability they would be compelled to trust 
themselves to a small boat, if so be one remained 
after the rush of the water over the deck for 
forty hours. 

The trio now ate with more relish than at any 
other time since their troubles began, and the 
mere act of taking nourishment served to imbue 
them with new strength and a spirit of hopeful- 
ness that did much to buoy them up in such a try- 
ing time. A council was held, at which the situa- 
tion could be discussed unreservedly, even Tres- 
sie taking part, for there had been occasions, as 
both Julian and his friend knew, when the ad- 
vice of even a small girl had proved of value. 
Besides, she shared the danger with them, and 
it seemed only right that a portion of the re- 
sponsibility should rest upon her shoulders. 

It was decided that negotiations should be 
opened up with the mutineers at once, looking 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


97 


to a combination of forces. The men had chosen 
to ignore the young people in the cabin, because 
desperate conditions had faced them almost 
from the time the brig fell into their hands ; but 
now that the cruel storm had snatched so many 
of their number away, and left them short- 
handed, possibly they would be glad of an ad- 
dition, and receive the two lads into full fellow- 
ship until land could be made, when the guilty 
ones could cut and run to avoid punishment. It 
was so easy to plan all this, sitting there about 
the table; nor did Julian doubt his ability to 
carry it into execution as he prepared to go 
forth and take his chances among the mutineers. 

Bob insisted upon thrusting some of his nu- 
merous bolos and yataghans into the sash Julian 
had about his waist, because, he said, it was only 
proper that the crew should be impressed with 
the ferocious appearance of those who wished 
to join forces with them. Thus accoutered 
Julian strode out of the cabin, followed by 
words of caution from Tressie and commenda- 
tion from Bob, who seemed to place great con- 


98 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


fidence in the lad from America, his “cousin 
from over the sea, ’ ’ as he loved to call him. 

Julian reached the deck, though with some 
difficulty, for the brig seemed to be settling to 
larboard, and it was evident that her cargo had 
shifted, as well as many leaks started. He was 
surprised not to hear the pumps going, for he 
had expected that the crew would try to keep 
the wreck afloat as long as possible, in the hope 
of sighting land. Now he gained the forlorn 
deck, a wilderness of ruin, and looked around 
in wonder, for not a living soul was in sight, 
though he had surely heard men shouting not 
half an hour before. The dreadful truth broke 
upon him that they had gone off in the only boat 
saved from the storm, leaving the three young 
inmates of the cabin to shift for themselves upon 
the slowly foundering brig. 


CHAPTER VIII. 


MAKING AND MANNING A LIFE-RAFT. 

Strangely enough, the first sensation which 
came to Julian upon discovering the cowardly 
flight of the crew was one of relief at getting 
rid of so undesirable an element. Then as the 
full nature of their peril broke upon him, he be- 
gan to experience a cold chill, especially when 
the water-logged brig gave a decided lurch as 
though preparatory to taking the mad plunge. 
Just how long she could remain afloat was a ser- 
ious question, and time must he an important 
factor in determining whether they left the 
wreck or went down with it. 

He looked upon the heaving water and found 
the waves no longer crested with foam, proving 
they were losing their power to overwhelm any 
frail craft compelled to breast their fury. He 


100 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


saw nothing of the deserters, though he strained 
his eyes looking in the quarter whence they must 
have gone. Well, it was a good riddance of 
very bad rubbish, and for one Julian hoped 
never to set eyes upon the rascals again. Still, 
he did begrudge them the only boat, and it 
seemed hard that with his two friends he should 
now be compelled to face so serious a problem in 
the transportation line. 

Nevertheless, there were objects in plenty of 
which a stout and serviceable raft could be con- 
structed, provided the builders were given a fair 
allotment of time, since such problems may not 
be solved in a jiffy. 

It was essential, therefore, that he and Bob 
set to work with as little delay as possible, while 
Tressie skirmished around and got together 
such supplies of food as were to be found. 
Julian, being but a young chap, had distinct 
memories of Robinson Crusoe’s experiences on 
the beloved isle, and while realizing something 
of the magnitude of the task confronting him, 
at the same time he could not but feel a little 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


101 


thrill of pleasure over the fact that he was 
thrown upon his own responsibility, and had 
serious problems to solve. 

He had just turned with the idea of calling 
the others on deck so that they, too, might real- 
ize what awaited them, when he heard some sort 
of movement forward, and caught a glimpse of a 
human head peeping above the coaming of the 
forward hatch. The prospect of having to face 
the mutinous and ugly crew after all, gave him a 
severe shock, and his hand involuntarily 
stretched out to secure some weapon from the 
strange assortment in his girdle, when to his 
delight he distinguished the well-known caput of 
Kwang Chow, queue and all, a broad grin upon 
his yellow phiz as he crawled hastily out upon 
the deck and advanced toward his friend. 

Again Julian was overwhelmed by this evi- 
dence of devotion on the part of his humble 
Chinese admirer. Kwang could in all probabil- 
ity have found a seat in the boat that carried the 
balance of the crew away, and the temptation 
must have been strong within his pagan heart, 


102 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


yet lie had resisted and ran away to hide, so they 
might not tempt or force him to flee, he prefer- 
ring to remain and take his chances with Julian. 

His warm reception by the overjoyed lad was 
reward enough for the stoical heathen, for Jul- 
ian literally fell upon his neck, and, if he failed 
to weep as did Jacob of old when he found his 
long-lost son Joseph a ruler in Egypt, he at 
least showered the idolater with all manner of 
delightful phrases that must have been halm to 
his soul. He did not question, believing the 
facts were as plain as words could make them, 
and, besides, the necessity for haste in accom- 
plishing their work of salvage pressed heavily 
upon him. 

At his hail Boh and Tressie came hastily on 
deck, and when the warlike Briton first caught 
sight of the Chinaman in Julian’s company he 
made a few frantic grabs after the handiest cut- 
lasses in his prize collection ; whereat the other 
shouted out the truth and hade him rejoice that 
their number had been thus augmented by the 
addition of such a devoted fellow, with muscle 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


103 


to spare at tlieir service. The coming of Kwang 
was a godsend to the young marooners, for he 
excelled in strength, having been something of 
a local Sandow in his native community, so that 
any heavy burdens that had to be taken care of 
were playthings in his sight. The others en- 
tered into the spirit of the thing, and there was 
some lively hustling about the littered deck of 
the old brig. 

In the excitement of the hour Tressie seemed 
to forget her grief and carried out her part of 
the business with dispatch, gathering quite a 
supply of food ready to he loaded upon the 
raft at such a time as necessity compelled them 
to embark. Meanwhile, under Julian’s instruc- 
tions the three others were making rapid prog- 
ress toward getting a rough but serviceable raft 
together. What they wanted was something 
that would he capable of resisting the encroach- 
ments of the slapping waves, day by day, and 
even stand something of a blow if necessary. 

Julian was a hit of a carpenter and capable 
of making things out of material that, in an- 


104 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


other’s eyes, might have seemed meager 
enough; and as the tool chest happened to be 
above water he was able to seize upon such im- 
plements of labor as best suited his purposes. 
It sounded very odd to hear the clang of ham- 
mers upon the deck of the sinking Wanderer, 
mingled with the cheery calls of the workers; 
but under such driving as necessity compelled 
the thing took shape most marvelously, and 
Julian began to believe they would have plenty 
of time to complete the raft with life-lines and 
even a rude mast, upon which a sail could be 
hoisted when the proper breeze blew. It was 
policy for them to remain on the wreck just as 
long as it would be safe to do so, since the sea 
was growing less turbulent with every passing 
hour. 

The raft had been constructed on the leeward 
side with several objects in view, proving that 
the architect kept his wits about him and cer- 
tainly did not mean to fall into the same error 
that attended the first attempt of Robinson 
Crusoe to construct a boat, which he had to 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


105 


abandon because it was too bulky for him to 
budge. Here the raft could be thrown into the 
sea by their united force, and when freed from 
its controlling rope would be carried away from 
the side of the doomed vessel by wind and wave ; 
whereas, upon the windward side the suction 
might hold it against the brig until drawn down 
with the final plunge. 

A keg of fresh water was securely lashed 
upon the float, after which they tumbled it over 
the side, Julian following in hot haste in order 
that, with the help of an oar, he might fend off, 
if necessary, to prevent any serious collision be- 
tween the float and the side of the settling brig. 
His judgment told him the time must be close at 
hand when the vessel would go under. Accord- 
ingly, the others passed down the food and other 
bundles, which he placed in the center of the 
raft until Bob could spring aboard and secure 
them. After that Tressie was assisted over the 
gap, and this was done without much trouble, 
though the wreck made a suspicious move or two 
that sent Julian’s heart almost into his throat. 


106 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


“Jump for it, Kwang!” he shouted, starting 
to unfasten the rope that held them to the doom- 
ed vessel ; and the Celestial made a flying leap 
that landed him on the raft on all fours, just as 
the influence of the eddy began to swing them 
to leeward, assisted, of course, by the lusty 
strokes of both boys, who had snatched up oars 
to help propel the clumsy craft. 

Julian breathed easier when they had put a 
safe distance between themselves and the object 
of their anxiety, so that they were beyond any 
possible influence of the whirlpool that would be 
created when the final act occurred. 

They rose and fell upon the bosom of the still 
troubled sea, and all eyes remained glued upon 
the sinking brig. Though nothing less could be 
expected under the circumstances , when the 
water actually closed above the ill-fated Wan- 
derer, and the last trace of her vanished from 
their view with an almost human sob, all were 
visibly affected, and pale faces were turned 
upon each other. A few bits of flotsam and that 
was all, for the brave old ship that had so long 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


107 


defied the fury of the wildest storms was sink- 
ing to the universal graveyard of her kind, 
where, as the centuries rolled on, the strange 
fishes and other denizens of the lower depths of 
the ocean might play at hide-and-seek amid her 
skeleton ribs. 

Knowing that it was necessary for them to 
keep a brave heart and not allow any symptom 
of despair to find a lodgment thus early in the 
affair, Julian assumed a cheerfulness he was 
far from feeling, and managed to buoy up the 
spirits of his fellow voyagers. The sail was 
thrown to the breeze, and while for a time it be- 
came a serious problem how the clumsy raft 
might be steered, a boy’s ingenuity on the part 
of Sailor Bob remedied this defect, so that in 
the end they were gliding along at quite a fair 
pace, rising and falling gently upon the heaving 
bosom of the vast deep. Tressie, finding that 
things moved so smoothly, yielded to the urging 
of her protectors and tried the couch they fitted 
up near the center of the float, utilizing some of 
thq,rugs brought from the brig; she needed 


108 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


rest after all the excitement of the last few days 
and nights, when sleep had utterly refused to 
visit her weary eyes. 

Julian sat with his hack against the mast, 
planning improvements and trying to figure out 
just what they should do in order to find safety. 
It was possible to head in a measure for the 
west, where the coast lay, though no one knew 
whether they were one or five hundred miles 
away from the shore, such had been the violence 
of the storm, and their ignorance while shut up 
in the cabin as to the direction it was driving the 
brig. 

Kwang, with stolid, impassive face, busied 
himself securing the ropes that held the raft 
together, making complicated knots and twists 
none but a Chinaman could achieve. Bob with 
his naturally hopeful temperament, talked of 
things they would do when land was reached, 
while Julian made ready to take an observation 
whereby he could with more or less certainty 
estimate the duration of the strange voyage on 
which they were now embarked. 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


109 


Before they left the Wanderer to her fate, he 
had gathered from the captain’s cabin all his in- 
struments of navigation; the compass, sextant, 
log, and chronometer, together with charts of 
the China Sea and other portions of the great 
Pacific Ocean. All these most valuable articles, 
enclosed in a water-tight box, were indeed price- 
less treasures to the young American, who 
knew enough of their practical uses to take reck- 
onings that would at least roughly indicate the 
latitude and longitude, and by aid of the chart 
enable him to locate their position on the mighty 
expanse of waters. Only those who understand 
the science of Navigation, or have watched the 
taking of an observation by the ship’s officers, 
can understand the value of the precaution taken 
by this young lad at the critical moment of their 
launching out on the roughly built life raft. 

The result of his observation showed their 
distance from the nearest land to be at least a 
four days’ voyage at their present rate of prog- 
ress. Four days of experiences none could an- 
ticipate without shrinking hearts. 


CHAPTER IX. 

HARPOONING THE MAI^-EATER. 

Bob’s enthusiasm only brought a faint smile 
upon the face of his comrade, for Julian could 
see little to exult over; they were like a speck 
upon the broad and treacherous China Sea, with 
land far distant, capable of making but a limited 
number of leagues a day at the best, and con- 
stantly in danger from a repetition of the storm 
that had given the ill-fated brig her death blow. 
The afternoon waned, with absolutely nothing 
of any moment occurring, save that the breeze 
began to die out, and the sun to feel scorching 
hot in consequence, so that they were one and all 
glad to cower in the scanty shade cast by the 
sail, and hope for evening’s blessed coolness. 

And the worst of it was this heat made them 
no 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


111 


so thirsty that, as Rob lugubriously put it, he 
could not think of anything save the sparkling 
waterfalls and clear brooks in his own dear Dev- 
onshire hills; it also caused more or less of a 
run on the water-keg, which their limited supply 
did not sanction, and Julian was compelled to 
call a halt in this respect. 

Several times they had noticed the dorsal-fin 
of a great shark cutting the water close by, 
and the boys found themselves looking in 
each other’s faces with considerable apprehen- 
sion, for the presence of the monster seemed 
frightfully significant. Julian knew what fierce 
man-eaters frequent this tropical ocean, and he 
experienced a clammy feeling at the prospect 
of an encounter with such a monster while 
swimming for his life; of course, he knew all 
about the reckless manner in which the native 
pearl-divers of the Far East attack the biggest 
sharks, with only a knife for a weapon; but such 
a bit of work necessitates considerable practice, 
as well as courage, in order to bring about suc- 
cess. As for him, he begged to be excused. 


112 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


They had a harpoon on the raft, which J ulian 
picked np on board the Wanderer , and which 
Captain Baxter had been pleased to use on 
swordfish in certain quarters at some time in 
his adventurous past ; and while he watched this 
spotted warrior of the deep sailing around them, 
growing bolder all the while, and advancing 
closer until he actually brushed the outer edge 
of the raft with his tail, and splashed water 
upon them with the flirt he gave in turning, 
Julian was figuring as to whether it would not 
be a good idea to make a slash at the pirate, 
teaching him at least that he had better attend 
to other business elsewhere, and that they could 
get along quite as well without his attentions. 
He picked up the iron and poised it a few times, 
while the others watched his actions with more 
or less interest. Julian hated to throw the 
weapon away, if by any means it could be made 
to do duty and be recovered; so he attached 
a heavy cord to the end of the shaft, and secured 
this in turn to the mast. 

All being now ready he stood at attention, 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


113 


awaiting the movements of Mr. Shark, who was 
not slow about coming in close again to take an- 
other longing look at his anticipated dinner. 
This time his whole awful length was seen ; they 
could even observe the cruel white teeth with 
which his jaws were lined, so arranged by na- 
ture that nothing upon which he once set them 
could ever escape. Bob declared he had noted 
the same peculiarity in a big python with which 
he had once had a nasty encounter in India, only 
escaping by the opportune shot of his attendant 
chikidar or guide. 

The huge monster of the deep came straight 
at the raft, as though determined to slap up 
against the frail support with the intention of 
knocking it to pieces, and distributing its human 
burden upon the surface of the sea, so that his 
meal would be ready in time. Julian was pre- 
pared and stood with muscles set, holding his 
very breath with eagerness and resolution. The 
leopard shark again made a sharp turn just be- 
fore coming in contact with the raft, and, of 
course, the water splashed up over those who 


114 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


crouched there; but this Julian had anticipated, 
and he did not allow it to interfere a bit with 
his designs on that old chap. 

The harpoon flew at just the proper instant, 
and when the shark’s hack was nearest the sur- 
face during his turn ; it struck with a thud that 
was plainly heard, and buried itself in his tough 
hide. Bob gave a whoop, to show the delight he 
experienced over the success of his companion 
in playing at whaler. 

“Ouch, hut that hurt, Mister Spotted Pirate! 
Perhaps you will he good after this, and keep 
your distance, I’m thinking.” 

As he was wound up, Bob might have kept on 
for some time in this vaunting strain, had not 
something happened to cut him short ; for when 
the harpooned shark rushed away after receiv- 
ing Julian’s compliments he soon came to the 
end of his tether, whereat there was a sudden 
shock that threw every one on the raft down, 
and Tressie might have fallen overboard but for 
Kwang, who chanced to catch her arm ere this 
could happen. Of course the heavy twine had 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


115 


broken under such a fierce assault, and the 
pained pirate of the deep sailed away with some 
jewelry ornamenting his side, though Julian 
fondly hoped the result would he an attack made 
by hungry fellows of like breed attracted by the 
scent of his blood. At any rate, they saw him 
no more, which was the object Julian had in view 
when he risked the loss of the old harpoon ; and 
the absence of the greedy-eyed monster was such 
a relief that the boys had few scruples on ac- 
count of the weapon which he had carried away 
with him. 

Nightfall on the sea is always a solemn time, 
when the sun drops behind the level horizon, 
and darkness begins to creep over that vast 
waste, the borders of which no eye may discern ; 
but it comes with additional force when the ob- 
server is floating upon a frail raft, at the mercy 
of the elements, and none of our four friends 
felt any enthusiasm over the glorious sunset, 
such as might have possessed them under more 
favorable conditions ; indeed, the only thing that 
Julian could say was that the prospects seemed 


116 


.ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


favorable for a decent morrow wliich meant a 
host of tilings necessary to their welfare. The 
night wore on apace; a soft air fluttered the 
halliards that were rigged the better to pull the 
sail into place, wrapping the rope against the 
mast. Once, twice, Julian awoke, and raised his 
head; but the others seemed to be sleeping so 
soundly, and so little could be done by raising 
the sail with so mild a current of air blowing 
thsft he concluded to let things go until the dawn 
came, and the wind freshened a bit. All were 
awake in time to see the sun peep over the sea- 
line, nor did they quite enjoy the idea of the 
warmth which he promised to shower upon them 
with unstinted hand ; though even that was more 
to be desired than the appearance of clouds, 
with their threat of storm and wreck. Another 
day stretched out before them, and who could 
say what it might not hold; at least they had 
much to be thankful for, which was the sensible 
way Julian had of looking at things, he being 
much of an optimist, scorning to brood over his 
troubles. 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


117 


For amusement during the morning he and 
Kwang set to work with hooks and lines, in 
order to see whether they could not catch fish, 
though success seemed a very doubtful quality 
thus far from land, still, there were certain spe- 
cies of edible fish accustomed to haunting the 
far-away places of the ocean, such as the mack- 
erel of which Julian had always been very fond; 
and it would really do no harm to keep a bait 
trailing after the float as they swept on their 
slow course. 

Probably there are no people on the face of 
the earth who know how to fish better than the 
natives of China, for from times far back they 
have had to depend on rice and fish as a means 
for warding off starvation, and it is always 
worth while watching a Celestial staking his 
cunning against that of denizens of the water. 
Kwang showed the Yankee some tricks that he 
had never heard of before and success actually 
attended their efforts, for after awhile Kwang 
drew in a struggling bit of silvery nimbleness, 
which he appeared to recognize as an old ac- 


118 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


quaintance, judging from the affectionate man- 
ner in which he held the captive up to the other ’s 
view, while a look of triumph overspread his 
amber-tinted face, as though in imagination he 
already enjoyed a feast. As they had no fire to 
cook fish with, and not the slightest probability 
of securing such a necessity, Julian did not see 
how they were to be benefited by this capture, 
until with many signs the heathen assured him 
that in his country people usually ate the fish 
in its primitive state, a fire being deemed quite 
unnecessary; and that by thus supplying him- 
self with such an article of diet he would be leav- 
ing more of the ordinary provisions for the rest, 
as well as tickling his own palate. 

That day was a scorcher, and all of them suf- 
fered while the sun beat down so unmercifully 
upon their heads; vain were their attempts to 
get in the shade of the sail, for the bit of canvas 
made hardly a streak across the raft in the 
neighborhood of noon, when the heat was at its 
worst; and they dared not take it down to fash- 
ion any better shield when the wind blew from 


ADEIFT ON A JUNK 


119 


a favorable quarter, and carried them along at 
the rate of some miles an hour. 

Julian had a marine glass, and many times 
did he engage in the ever fascinating amuse- 
ment of sweeping the horizon in search of a sail, 
or perhaps the floating smoke that might betray 
the presence of a passing steamer, bound be- 
tween Hongkong and Manila, or it might be 
headed for distant Singapore; little these cast- 
aways cared which it might be if only they could 
find a shred of hope upon which to hang their 
longings. Once he did discover a trail of dingy 
smoke, far away to the eastward, and eagerly he 
watched in the hope that the steamer might ap- 
proach so that their presence would be seen; 
but it soon became evident that she would pass 
many miles away, so that Julian was glad he 
had not called the attention of the rest. In that 
way he saved them from experiencing his own 
feeling of intense disappointment. 

It would be folly to attempt to describe what 
they said and did during the long weary hours 
while that burning sun scalded them, and they 


120 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


yearned for just a drop of cool water to relieve 
their parched tongues. There was so little they 
could do besides possess their souls in patience. 
No one was sorry when the orb of day sank out 
of sight, yet Julian cast more than a few anxious 
glances toward the southeast, where gathered 
a few clouds which to his sailor eye promised 
trouble sooner or later. 



THE HARPOON FLEW JUST AT THE PROPER INSTANT. 

(Page 114.) 



. 








■ 






















































- 


— 













































CHAPTER X. 


TWO DAYS WITH THE CASTAWAYS. 

As the breeze kept up even after night-fall, 
it was determined to keep the canvas in place, 
because every mile might count for something 
in working out their destiny. Boh and Julian 
promised to take tricks, turn about, at the rude 
rudder, and it being the latter ’s first watch, he 
arranged a place for Tressie, pleased to receive 
her thanks, which were a balm to his heart in 
this hour of tribulation. It was not long ere he 
found Bob at his elbow, and then he understood 
that the other wished to engage in a whispered 
conversation, of course concerning their chances 
of escape from the perils that threatened. 

1 ‘ Did you notice ’em yonder, too ? ’ ’ asked the 
English lad, softly, pointing toward the souths 
eastern horizon. 


121 


122 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


“Hush,” said Julian, warningly, motioning 
with his head toward the spot where the girl lay, 
only a few feet away. 

“Oh, she’s sound asleep, never fear; I made 
sure of that before I crept this way. And be- 
sides, even if she wasn ’t, I don ’t think she could 
hear what I ’m whispering in your ear, old chap, 
with that sail slapping all the while. You saw 
the clouds, then?” he persisted. Julian said he 
did, and from his manner it was quite evident 
the sight had not been of a nature to please him 
a bit. 

“Trouble brewing yonder; may not come 
down on us before morning, but my eyes, that 
hot sun didn’t stand for naught. Now, see here, 
be honest with me, and let’s compare notes.” 

“That’s all right, Bob; what d’ye want to 
know?” asked the Yankee lad. 

“What chances would we have if another blow 
came on?” 

“You mean like the last one, of course?” de- 
manded Julian. 


“Yes; as hard as that.” 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


123 


“Well, the chances are we’d go down before 
it had half reached its worst. Yon see we 
couldn’t help ourselves from being washed off 
the raft, unless we tied ourselves to the timbers, 
and then we’d be drenched and pounded until 
there was no more life left in our poor bodies. 
Then I don’t believe anything we could do would 
keep the raft together an hour in such a howling 
boomer. It ’s a had go, Bob. ’ ’ 

The other wdiistled just above his breath and 
seemed sobered more than his sailor friend could 
ever remember seeing him. 

“I should remark it was a tough nut to crack 
The worst of the whole business is the fact that 
a fellow can’t strike out and do something like 
he could on shore. Here we are, and here we 
must remain, sucking our thumbs and waiting 
to take whatever is dealt out to us. It makes me 
mad.” 

“No use gritting your teeth, Boh; that won’t 
mend matters. Now, I wouldn’t feel quite so 
bad over it if she could only be saved ; hut we ’re 
in the same boat, and what comes to one must 


124 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


be dealt out to all. There are other things to 
worry me. Our supply of water is running low, 
and in another day I’m afraid we’ll see the bot- 
tom of the cask, which is but a small one for 
four persons ; then the tortures of thirst with a 
blazing sun overhead; ugh! it’s a subject that 
doesn’t possess any attractions for a fellow of 
my size.” 

“ Wait ; wasn’t it you that said only yesterday 
there’s no need of crossing bridges till you come 
to ’em. Well, we haven’t got to that plank yet, 
and who knows that we’ll ever get there. Put 
that in your pipe and smoke it. ’ ’ 

Julian needed such a reminder; he was in a 
gloomy frame of mind and a little dose of his 
own medicine brightened him up amazingly. He 
squeezed the hard hand of the sturdy little Eng- 
lish sailor lad. “Right you are, and I’m going 
to keep a still upper lip after this, if only for 
the sake of the girl,” was what he remarked, 
solemnly. 

Then he told Bob about the steamer that had 
not come within miles of their floating prison, 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


125 


but which he had watched with such eagerness. 
4 ‘ There may come another tomorrow/ ’ quoth 
Bob, cheerfully, and Julian was pleased to find 
how philosophical his friend could be under dis- 
couragements. 

They continued to chat in low voices for some 
time, though neither of them found himself able 
to advance any method of bettering their des- 
perate condition an iota; theory might be all 
very well, but when it came down to actual ex- 
perience, with fhe limited resources that were 
their stock in trade, the keenest-witted lawyer 
could not have seen a way out. 

Bob was induced to lie down at length, and 
get some rest while he might. “You may need 
it before morning/ ’ said Julian, “and I’ll want 
a few whiffs of sleep myself, thank you.” 

By midnight the stars no longer peeped down 
from their vantage place in the heavens, or at 
least a screen had crept between them and the 
surface of the waters ; for the clouds which the 
boys had marked near the horizon had by this 
time spread completely athwart the blue arch, 


126 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


and darkness profound held full sway. Away 
off in the distance could be heard a dull boom- 
ing sound that gave our lads a chill, for at this 
time all upon the raft had been aroused, and 
were preparing to meet the anticipated danger 
as best their feeble means allowed. It was thun- 
der without a doubt, and told that something 
was breeding, though Julian began to take heart 
of grace, since the conditions were so different 
from what they had been just before the advent 
of the typhoon, that he hoped this might he some- 
thing far less dreadful. And such it turned out 
to be. 

True, the lightning was appalling, and the 
thunder hanged with deafening salvos in their 
ears, until it really seemed as though the uni- 
verse must have exploded, while the rain came 
down in sheets; hut little or no wind accom- 
panied the storm, for which they had reason to 
he grateful. Seized with an idea, Julian called 
to his comrades to assist, and with their help 
spread the sail in such a way that it acted as a 
reservoir to catch the tremendous downpour of 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


127 


water, running it into the little keg, which they 
filled in hardly more than fifteen minutes, such 
was the tropical nature of the deluge that was 
soaking them to the skin. Little they cared, 
since it cooled their fevered flesh, and how they 
did quaff copious draughts of this Heaven-sent 
water, until it seemed as though they could 
never become thirsty more. So it appeared 
there may be times when it is folly to borrow 
trouble, and that what promised disaster brings 
succor; for they had not been injured in the 
least, were greatly refreshed, and their water- 
cask was running over with a delightful supply 
of the necessary life-giving fluid. That rain 
freshened the air considerably, and when the 
sun arose over the level horizon, there did not 
appear to be the same promise of exhausting 
heat for which they one and all rejoiced exceed- 
ingly. 

Another day passed, and they could at least 
report progress, so that after all the prediction 
made by Julian at the time he took the observa- 
tion had some little chance of being fulfilled, 


128 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


since half of the distance might be said to have 
been passed over, providing he had been fairly 
correct in his work, which he was not wholly 
willing to vouch for. The night was very still, 
the wind going down with the sun, and for hours 
they lay nearly motionless upon the bosom of 
the deep. 

More heat was promised them with the com- 
ing of dawn on the fourth day of drifting, for 
the breeze turned out to be fitful and capricious, 
coming in puffs that reminded Julian of cer- 
tain past experiences when squalls threatened. 
Neither of the, lads liked the looks of things, for 
their progress was miserably slow, and it grew 
more threatening overhead as the day advanced. 
Everything that could be done to keep the spars 
constituting the raft together during a severe 
blow, had been attended to, and they could now 
only maintain as brave hearts as possible and 
await the inevitable. 

None of them had thought to scan the horizon 
after the first eager observation at dawn, which 
had failed to produce satisfactory results ; and 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


129 


in an idle moment Kwang, having picked tip the 
glasses, amused himself by now turning to this 
quarter and then to that. No one was watching 
the Celestial and when he uttered a sudden 
startled exclamation it thrilled them through 
and through. 

Looking up they saw Kwang pointing excited- 
ly toward the quarter from whence the puffy air 
proceeded, and realizing that something out of 
the common had occurred to thus electrify the 
Chinaman all scrambled to their feet, and imme- 
diately bent hurried and eager glances in that 
direction. No one shouted, though a vessel was 
in plain sight, and bearing down upon them, 
with more or less rapidity, as the eccentric 
breeze caught her bulky frame much more read- 
ily than was the case with the low-lying raft. 

“ A Chinese junk!” exclaimed Bob, with won- 
der, and not a little trace of alarm in his voice, 
because he had good reason to know that the 
coast along this region was infested with law- 
less characters, who for ages past had been reck- 
oned as pirates, though in the event of a British 


130 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


man-o ’-war arriving to make an investigation 
they would prove themselves hard-working til- 
lers of the soil, or fishermen for the Hongkong 
market. To fall into the hands of these scoun- 
drels would hardly improve their condition, and 
it was on this account that neither of the boys 
showed the least enthusiasm over the advent of 
this new factor in the game. 

“How strangely she moves; just for all the 
world like a crab going backward. Why, I 
never saw a boat do that before, unless it was 
adrift, ’ ’ said Tressie, with wonder in her voice. 

J ulian gave a quick cry. 1 ‘ That ’s it ! That ’s 
it! The junk’s deserted! The crew must have 
left her in the storm, believing she was sinking. 
Here’s where we score, Bob, and kick a goal 
from the field!” was his enthusiastic boy-like 
way of putting it. 

Tressie had never seen him so aroused, for his 
very eyes sparkled, and he evidently believed 
their trust had not gone astray. Indeed, every 
one on the raft found reason to rejoice, for it 


ADBIFT ON A JUNK 


131 


began to look as though their condition might 
speedily be vastly improved. 

The next thing on the program was to gain the 
side of the wonderful runaway junk that a be- 
nevolent fortune had provided for her favorites ; 
for if no effort was made on their part the 
chances of the two floating objects coming to- 
gether seemed remote indeed. 

4 ‘ First of all down with the sail,” suggested 
Bob, making a stride as if to carry his idea into 
practice. 

4 ‘ Hold on, not quite so fast, old fellow. You 
see we’ve got to figure just how she comes, and 
then waylay her ; to do which the sail may prove 
of more benefit than our muscles,” exclaimed 
Julian, looking further ahead. He took hold of 
the rudder, while Bob manipulated the sail un- 
der directions from the skipper, and in obe- 
dience to her helm which she answered indiffer- 
ently, and slowly, the clumsy raft began to slide 
off to one side a bit, so as to intercept the drift- 
ing junk. 

Now the waves were washing half over the 


132 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


bound spars, giving a promise of ugly things 
yet to come ; but no one paid the least attention 
to such trivial annoyances when so much was at 
stake in another quarter. It began to appear to 
the keen-eyed Julian that unless they assisted 
the progress of the raft in other ways, the junk 
might blow past before they were able to get in 
its course ; accordingly he bade Kwang use one 
of the oars, while Boh took the other. 

There was a great commotion for the time be- 
ing, and every one worked like a Trojan to 
effect the meeting that meant so much to their 
fortunes. Even little Tressie tried to help in 
her way, so great was the desire to gain the 
side of the junk ; for the appearance of the sky 
gave abundant evidence that some sort of gale 
was brewing, and it seemed to have become a 
matter of life and death to them. Bob gave a 
mighty weak shout, being exceedingly short of 
wind just then ; but the others could appreciate 
his exalted feelings, for a sudden shift of the 
squally breeze started the deserted vessel 
straight for them. Nearer she came, stern fore- 


ADEIFT ON A JUNK 


133 


most, with not a sign of life about her; and Jul- 
ian, who had seized a bight of the rope prepared 
himself to leap aboard at the first available mo- 
ment. 


CHAPTER XI. 

ON BOARD THE HALF-MOON. 

When Julian clambered on board the junk his 
heart heat high with anticipation, for he realized 
that their chances had been immeasurably im- 
proved by the singular circumstance connected 
with their running across this queer craft. So 
he whipped his stout line around the first object 
he discovered that held out a fair promise of 
resistance, and in consequence the raft was 
speedily knocking against the side of the vessel. 

Bob at once handed Tressie up to him, and the 
captain’s daughter no sooner felt the deck of a 
bona-fide vessel under her feet than she gave 
utterance to a squeal of genuine delight, and 
capered about joyously, such was her confidence 
in anything that took the semblance of a ship, 

134 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


135 


after the recent doleful experience on a float. 
Kwang, too, pitched in and helped, for he had 
understood full well the nature of the dreadful 
danger that had been hovering over their heads, 
and his yellow face was set in one broad grin 
as he took occasional glances along the deck of 
the junk while he worked ; for it tickled him not 
a little to know they had come upon a vessel with 
which he was so very familiar, and which in his 
eyes signfied the favor of his heathen gods in 
answer to his prayers. Everything was tossed 
aboard, even to the water-keg, for as yet, not 
having had a chance to take an observation, they 
could not say just what they would find in con- 
nection with the abandoned craft. 

When the raft upon which they had sailed and 
floated four days was cut loose and left bobbing 
astern in the rising waves, now washing com- 
pletely over it, our four friends watched it dis- 
appear with mingled emotions of satisfaction 
and regret; for, while it had served their pur- 
pose most admirably, had they been compelled 
by stress of circumstances to remain longer, 


136 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


doubtless their end would have speedily come, 
and that was why they felt no regrets. 

It behooved them to immediately take a look 
through their new possession. Julian was a 
trifle dubious, not knowing exactly what they 
might discover; for, after all, his speculation 
regarding the abandonment of the junk during 
the recent gale might not turn out to be the right 
solution of the mystery, and when they came to 
pry into the cabin they might run across some 
fearful evidences of the manner in which these 
sharks of the Chinese coast carried out their 
awful work. It was with set teeth, therefore, 
that he began to run around, peering into this 
corner and prying into that, noting that the sup- 
plies had not been removed in the haste with 
which the vessel was abandoned, which once 
more induced him to believe it must have been 
the typhoon that was responsible for the good 
fortune that had come to them. 

He gave a sigh of relief when it became cer- 
tain that the floating Chinese vessel contained 
no ghastly evidences of crime, and felt as though 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


137 


a load had slipped from his shoulders. Here 
and there he found opportunity to accomplish 
some little thing calculated to assist in making 
their new shelter more comfortable as well as 
better able to stand out another nasty blow. A 
window had been carelessly left open in the 
stern, and it was a real window, too, no bulFs- 
eye this time, allowing more or less water to find 
admittance, so that the floor was awash. This 
he closed, first battening the wooden shutter that 
hung on the outside, to protect the glass from 
crashing seas. 

When he once more appeared on deck it was 
to find that Bob and Kwang had started to drag 
one of the matting sails part way up, so that the 
boat would have steerageway on her; for if 
there is any situation that disgusts a sailor more 
than another it is to find himself drifting stern 
foremost, the freak and sport of wind and wave. 
The craft answered her helm wonderfully for so 
clumsy a boat. When Julian came to know 
more about these junks he might not sneer at 
their weatherly qualities, for the Chinese have 


138 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


been bold mariners these thousands of years, and 
while preferring what seems to be a quaint pat- 
tern of boat in the eyes of a Yankee, they long 
ago learned to build to suit the peculiar condi- 
tions of the sea upon which most of their cruis- 
ing is done, as well as to correspond with their 
national characteristics. 

A well-made junk is far from being what it 
looks, a tub, and any one who has sailed upon 
such a contraption of the boat-builders ’ art will 
bear me out in asserting that they have many 
admirable qualities. Comfortable and roomy, 
they squat upon the water like a duck, and with 
the slightest zephyr skim over the surface like a 
frightened waterfowl. 

Kwang had been investigating the name that 
was printed in strange Chinese characters of 
gold upon her stern, and this he managed to 
translate after a fashion as meaning the Half- 
Moon. Julian had a vague understanding that 
he had seen just such a name before, whether 
upon a vessel or in history he was uncertain, 
though he inclined toward the opinion that it 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


139 


had some connection with that sturdy old ex- 
plorer and adventurer, Hendrick Hudson, of 
New Amsterdam fame. 

At least they had now done everything possi- 
ble looking toward their comfort and safety, and 
when he came out from the Oriental cabin where 
Tressie was trying to get something to eat, he 
found the others rigging a sea-anchor, which 
might save them from being carried into the 
breakers in an emergency. At any rate he con- 
sidered it such an admirable idea that he set to 
work on the spot and lent his assistance. Such 
a drag is serviceable under many conditions, and 
has saved many a disabled craft from founder- 
ing, keeping her from broaching-to in the wash 
of the tremendous billows that must overwhelm 
any vessel caught broadside on. 

It was a luxury to be in a position to sleep in 
a bunk again, and when they were given a cup of 
warm coffee by the busy little cook, how delight- 
ful it all seemed, and what fresh cheer the fa- 
miliar beverage bestowed. They had brought 
the material from the Wanderer, but of course, 


140 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


while on the raft, there had been no opportunity 
to make coffee. 

It was past noon. The wind had increased 
by degrees until it blew a half gale, and long 
ere now disaster must surely have overtaken 
them had they been compelled to remain upon 
their frail float. 

By three o’clock the gale was sweeping them 
along like a chip upon the boiling flood; and 
Julian was charmed to discover how wonder- 
fully the Oriental craft behaved in such a furi- 
ous turmoil. 

One thing which they had forgotten to bring, 
Julian missed many times when anxious about 
the weather, and this was the captain’s barom- 
eter, which had been left hanging on its hook. 
He noted that this time they were being swept 
along in a direction almost due southeast, which, 
after a while, changed to southwest, indicating 
that it was something of a small hurricane, and 
that the junk had the misfortune to be near the 
cone or center of the whirl. 

The night set in very early, because of the 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


141 


dense canopy of clouds above them; and our 
young friends believed they would have cause 
for sincere thanksgiving if they lived to see the 
coming of daylight again. The drag had been 
cast overboard long since, and was working 
wonderfully well, holding them to a certain ex- 
tent, even while the angry seas washed the deck 
of the high junk, carrying away what few mov- 
able articles chanced to be exposed. 

Kwang Chow had a 6 ‘ narrow squeak,” as Bob 
called it, and but for his good fortune in clutch- 
ing a trailing rope as he was thrashed over the 
side he must have met his fate then and there, 
and looked upon his beloved Flowery Kingdom 
never more. After that he tied himself fast 
when on deck and kept a watchful eye to wind- 
ward, looking out for those tremendous seas that 
boarded as they pleased without sending their 
card ahead. 

In the cabin Julian made up a bunk for the 
girl and insisted upon her occupying it most of 
the night, though perhaps she might slumber 
only in cat naps; for, when plunging about in 


142 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


the grasp of the tempest, without knowing when 
the dreadfnl end might come, it would indeed be 
difficult for any one to sleep soundly. 

By the time morning was due they were worn 
out completely, and had the gale taken a notion 
to start up afresh they must have dropped in the 
cabin unable to do more. Fortunately it had 
shown signs of abating these three hours back, 
and the only fear Julian could not shake off was 
that which concerned the breakers ; what if they 
should find at dawn that they were being driven 
upon cruel rocks which must pierce the shell 
of the stoutest craft like knives, and scatter her 
timbers far and wide? Under such a disastrous 
termination to their voyage, what would become 
of the four who now manned the junk? 

By degrees the daylight grew stronger, and 
all were now on deck, casting anxious looks to- 
ward the quarter whence they were still being 
carried by the sweeping seas. The time came 
when, through a rift in the clouds, the first gleam 
of sunlight fell athwart the mass of boiling, 
tumbling waters ; and at the same time it chased 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


143 


the last skulking shadow away, so that they 
could see around them and take note of the fact 
that in no direction— east, west, north or south— 
was there any sign of land. The junk still 
owned the sea. 


CHAPTER XII. 

HISTORY OF THE DRIFTING JUNK. 

A load rolled from their shoulders at making 
this discovery, and ludicrous Boh insisted upon 
waltzing about the deck chanting the very latest 
coon song he had heard out from the music- 
halls; undoubtedly that same deck of the junk 
may have witnessed some strange sights in its 
time, and possibly those connected with disorder 
and blood-letting; but it certainly never before 
knew the beauty of the double-shuffle, nor the 
glories involved in a genuine pigeon-wing, in 
the representation of which Bob yielded the 
palm to no lad. 

Tressie ran off to brew some more coffee, 
while both Julian and his comrade tumbled into 
their bunks to snatch a few winks of sleep ere 
144 


ADKIFT ON A JUNK 


145 


the welcome tocsin, in the shape of a big spoon 
pounded on a frying-pan, summoned them to 
breakfast. That was a meal fit for the gods, 
in the estimation of the hungry boys who had 
subsisted so long on cold forage. The new cook 
wrestled with the weighty problem, and placed 
before them a rasher of bacon, some fried pota- 
toes, with onions, coffee and actual biscuits 
baked in the astonishing oven which was found 
in the cook’s galley, and which only Kwang was 
able to manipulate at first, so strange to their 
Western ideas were its accomplishments. 

Butter was an unknown quantity, but they 
never missed it, for sailors do not indulge in 
such a luxury save when ashore. They ate on 
deck, which the genial sun had dried by this 
time, and the magnificent view afforded by the 
surging seas was something few people, save 
fortunate owners of private yachts, could afford. 

Julian insisted upon taking another observa- 
tion, this time under conditions that were an im- 
provement over those existing on the previous 
occasion ; though he left the figuring until justice 


146 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


had been done Tressie’s handiwork. They were 
unanimous in pronouncing her a little wonder 
when it came to catering to a boy’s appetite; 
and many a blush they caused to mount into her 
cheeks because of the fervent praise bestowed 
with such hearty zeal. Inspired by this spirit 
of the occasion Kwang Chow also declared ve- 
hemently he was a “boss” cook, as he would 
take delight in showing these friends upon fu- 
ture occasion. At least, that was how Julian 
translated the signs and pidgin-English where- 
with he expressed himself so eloquently ; where- 
upon they one and all declared he should pres- 
ently have a chance to exploit himself, always 
under the eye of the head chef, for they had 
fears to which no one liked to give utterance, 
concerning the strange delicacies with which a 
Chinaman delights to tickle his palate. 

There wms a long afternoon before them, with 
the glistening ocean all around, and not a living 
soul to interfere with their pleasure. Julian 
set about his figuring to ascertain how far they 
had drifted away from the scene of his former 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


147 


observation; while Bob had discovered a bat- 
tered musical instrument aboard, somewhat 
after the fashion of our guitar, and which 
Kwang called a samisan, with which he retired 
to a corner of the deck, if a nook under the tow- 
ering bulwarks could be so called, and coaxed 
the most excruciating sounds from that agon- 
ized music-box, under the delusion that he was 
keeping an accompaniment to the multitude of 
ballads which he warbled. It was simply great, 
and little Tressie laughed again and again when- 
ever she put her head out of the cabin doorway. 

There was Kwang, who, in rooting around, 
had come across another remarkable treasure in 
the shape of an enormous breech-loading gun, 
known to fame as a gin gal , and which ordinarily 
takes two men to fire. This he shouldered and 
marched up and down the deck as proudly as a 
peacock, deeming himself the appointed guar- 
dian of all his companions ; with such a glorious 
weapon little he feared all the fanquey on earth, 
and even the Evil Spirit so dreaded by his class, 
and ever being propitiated by much “cash” 


148 ADRIFT ON A JUNK 

and other offerings, might threaten this hold 
warrior in vain. 

When Julian, in the midst of these various 
distracting sights and sounds, finally managed to 
finish his calculations, he found to his surprise 
that they must have gone in somewhat of a cir- 
cle, since with all their sailing, and the rush of 
the tempest, he made out that their present loca- 
tion could not be more than a hundred miles 
from the other. It was nearer the coast, though, 
and unconsciously when he had determined upon 
this point his gaze wandered anxiously to the 
west, as though he would fain look beyond their 
limited horizon, and see what awaited them 
there. 

Later on he undertook to examine the boat 
again from one end to the other, hoping to dis- 
cover just what she might be, whether an hon- 
est trader, or something of a more suspicious 
character. From various things which Kwang 
explained to him, he finally came to the conclu- 
sion that those who had formerly constituted the 
regular crew of the Half-Moon had been some- 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


149 


thing of adventurers, ready to make an illicit 
haul whenever the opportunity came. It could 
be set down 'as certain that the boat must have 
gone through many vicissitudes in her past, be- 
side which the recent storm would he hut a 
mere bagatelle. Why, the same keen-eyed 
Kwang Chow even pointed out marks upon her 
sides which he claimed had been made a long 
time ago by shot from the guns of a man-o ’-war, 
from which she had of course escaped up some 
river or through some shallow pass or lagoon. 

Upon one of the padded quilts in the bunks, 
called puakis by Kwang, that observant indivi- 
dual pointed out a dark stain, together with a 
clean-cut hole such as might be made with a 
knife, the whole suggesting such a tragedy that 
Julian took the first opportunity to toss the aw- 
ful thing into the sea, for he would not have 
Tressie see it lest it give her the horrors and 
check the joy over their improved conditions 
that was showing in her smiles, though she could 
not forget that her father had been sent adrift 
and that his fate was still a mystery. 


150 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


There was a sufficiency of rice and some other 
things aboard, hut plainly the crew of the Half- 
Moon had not been in the habit of feasting upon 
royal food, if one could judge from the charac- 
ter of that abandoned at the time of their leav- 
ing the junk. Little it mattered, since our 
friends had no intention of remaining on the 
vessel any longer than necessary. The first 
steamer to be sighted would receive a signal of 
distress, and be obliged to lie to until they came 
aboard, no matter whither bound. In case none 
showed up, possibly they could sail the junk to 
port. 

This brought Julian face to face with a new 
problem. He knew next to nothing about the 
method of working a junk in order to get out her 
speed, though no doubt he could learn under 
the instructions of Kwang Chow, scion of a gen- 
eration of sailors. The remarkable sails, made 
of matting, were so clumsy to his fingers that 
he wondered how they could be managed in a 
hurry; but the native gave him a few lessons 
that opened his eyes, and after that Julian be- 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


151 


gan to feel more respect for the ability of a 
Chinese junk. 

The cabin did not have a fragrant odor. Jul- 
ian was always in doubt as to whether this came 
from the burning of innumerable joss-sticks, or 
that the former inmates were in the habit of 
smoking villainous hemp-seed, or the opium so 
beloved of Celestials. Nor could these odors he 
got rid of even when Tressie fried a mess of 
onions, warranted to overwhelm any ordinary 
perfume. This was one reason why Julian had 

A 

not spent more time below, and this was also 
the reason that a certain discovery was not 
made earlier. 

Julian had been taking another observation, 
and believed a faint line that lay upon the west- 
ern horizon like a cloud, might be the' shore; 
which possibly aroused a train of thought within 
his mind concerning what their future plan of 
action might be. From this he was suddenly 
aroused by strange sounds coming from the in- 
terior of the junk. Tressie came flying out of 
the cabin, and as the din continued it was evi- 


152 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


dent she had no hand in its production. Bob 
lay sound asleep under the high bulwarks, ap- 
parently not caring whether school kept or not. 
One of their number was missing, and it was 
reasonable to ascribe this commotion to him ; in- 
deed, Julian knew only a moon-eyed Chinaman 
could produce such remarkable and discordant 
noises. 

So Julian waited, drawing forth his “hang- 
er, ’ ’ as he laughingly named the ferocious 
blade with which Bob had insisted upon decorat- 
ing his hip, because the skipper of a piratical 
junk ought not to go without the proper appen- 
dages suitable to his rank. Louder still grew 
the clamor, and now even that hard sleeper, Bob, 
opened his eyes and asked what mischief was 
*up, that a fellow could not take a nap in peace. 

At last Kwang appeared upon the scene, a 
demoralized Chinaman as he burst out from the 
hatch through which the for’ard hold of the ves- 
sel could be reached. Julian remembered that 
he had failed to explore that section of the junk, 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


153 


hardly thinking it worth while, or, at any rate, 
leaving it for a more convenient time. 

Kwang was scared, for his yellow face looked 
more like saffron than ever, while his slant-eyes 
seemed fairly popping ont of his head, and his 
arms plowed the air like a couple of old-time 
flails in the hands of a rice-farmer. He kept 
glancing behind him as he staggered toward 
Julian, as a man will who believes he is fol- 
lowed; seeing which the Yankee lad thought to 
call out and reassure him. 

“It’s all right, Kwang, old fellow; nothing 
coming, and we’ll take care of ’em if they do. 
Now, what’s all this row about?” He empha- 
sized his remarks with certain gestures the 
Oriental could interpret; and as Kwang began 
to regain his confidence the others waited 
breathlessly for an explanation, feeling positive 
that he had something remarkable to tell. 


CHAPTER XIII. 

THE GHOST THAT GROANED. 

It was now Julian’s privilege to translate 
what he had received from Kwang Chow, just as 
he had seen the captain receiving certain signals 
from another ship, and by referring to his code- 
book making common English of the flags. 

“He says the junk is haunted,” was the first 
astonishing translation with which he favored 
his expectant audience ; whereat Tressie uttered 
a cry of delight, for it had always been her se- 
cret ambition to interview one genuine ghost; 
while Bob on the other hand was mortally afraid 
of anything bordering on the supernatural, and 
accordingly gave a gasp of horror at learning 
he was now in a position where he might have 
to face such an apparition. 

154 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


155 


“He says he was searching the quarters of 
the sailors, in the hope of finding a hit of forgot- 
ten opium with which to ease his toothache— 
anyhow, a poor excuse is better than none, and 
we’ll take it for granted that he had the tooth- 
ache, poor fellow, though I wager it’s frightened 
away by now— and was prying under every 
bunk when he heard a most awful groan, which 
he says was the worst ever, and Kwang ought 
to know, for I guess he’s run across some pretty 
tough ones in his time. 

“Of course you know that the Chinese are 
mighty superstitious, and believe in a personal 
devil that is always hovering near to do a fel- 
low a bad turn. They call this Evil Spirit the 
Fung-Shuy, or something like that, and every- 
thing is done to appease or confuse him and his 
imps; at a funeral pieces of red paper with 
marks on every one, are scattered about, under 
the impression that the old fellow is curious, and 
will stop to pick up every bit, giving the corpse 
a chance to get in the grave first. Oh, they are 
an interesting lot, I’m telling you right now. 


156 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


“Very well; now here’s our friend Kwang 
Chow, who vows the devil is lying below, wait- 
ing to get hold of us one by one ; and what wor- 
ries him so badly is the fact that he hasn’t any 
of those prayer papers to offer the old fellow in 
order to keep him guessing until we can get off 
the boat.” 

Julian laughed aloud as he finished speaking, 
and the girl followed suit ; but Bob looked quite 
serious. “Yes; but he heard something,” he 
asserted, shaking his head. 

4 ‘ Perhaps we can cut up some stuff, and make 
prayer-papers,” suggested Julian, with fine 
irony. 

“Come now, this is no joking matter, old fel- 
low. Do you expect to go down and see what 
scared the poor old chap?” asked Bob, coloring. 

“Right away, and I half expect to find that 
some pet cat or dog has been left behind when 
the crew took French leave; or it may be we’ll 
run across a sick Chinaman in his bunk, for 
those rascals wouldn’t think anything of leaving 
a chum to his fate.” 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


157 


“Perhaps down with the plague— ugh!” 
groaned Boh, dismally. 

“Oh, stop that croaking and come with me. 
I saw a lantern in the cabin, that will answer 
our purpose, even if it is a tough proposition.’ ’ 

“Then you want me to go along; of course, 
I’m willing enough, hut who’s to look after the 
ship when we’re all below; what if a squall or 
something came up suddenly with the tiller 
lashed that way? It’s for you to say, though, 
Skipper,” he added, with a look of dejection 
that made Julian grin with delight. 

“I want to go with Julian; please let me,” 
said Tressie, at this juncture, and she would not 
take no for an answer, evidently. 

“Well, come on, then, Miss Second Mate, and 
we’ll interview that old ghost or know the rea- 
son why. ’ ’ 

“ I ’ll get the lantern, ’ ’ she cried, darting back 
into the cabin. 

Boh looked a hit foolish, hut he hurried over 
to the stern and seized the tiller so eagerly that 
one might nave fancied a black squall must be 


158 


ADEIFT ON A JUNK 


bearing down upon them at race-horse speed, 
when the sky was cloudless and no signs of dan- 
ger near. 

Kwang now realized what they were about to 
do, and really the poor fellow was greatly con- 
cerned over the possible sad fate of the young 
American whom he had come to worship as his 
patron saint ; he begged him not to go, and find- 
ing his prayers unavailing, by a great effort con- 
quered his fears, which were a part of his very 
nature, having been handed down from remote 
ancestors, and made out to follow the adventur- 
ous pair into the depths. Perhaps it was a 
novelty about the thing that attracted his curi- 
osity, for never in all his experience had he 
known human beings to thus defy the dreaded 
Fung Shuy. 

Now, Julian was not entirely free from anx- 
iety, though he may not have shown it to the 
others; but he could not say what it was that 
had frightened the Chinaman. What Bob had 
said about the black plague had not been reas- 
suring, either, for he knew the scourge was pre- 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


159 


vailing in certain quarters, and it was even pos- 
sible that its appearance on board the Half- 
Moon had caused the sudden flight of the crew. 

Once below the deck, Julian advanced slowly, 
holding in one hand the rude native lantern, 
fashioned somewhat like those used a century or 
two back in old England, while the other hand 
gripped that ferocious bashi bazouk blade of the 
needle point and keen edge, with which he felt 
he could give a good account of himself in con- 
flict with even a phantom. The place was stuffy, 
and the odor worse than in the cabin, proving 
that it did come from opium or hemp-seed being 
smoked so constantly that everything was sat- 
urated with its villainous smell. All was silent 
save the customary sounds one might expect to 
hear when a ship is moving through the water. 

“ Bring on your ghosts,” said Julian, dra- 
matically waving his polished weapon before 
him after the manner of one who dares a de- 
spised antagonist to advance and give battle. 
At that moment as if in answer to his challenge 
there was a distinct moaning sound close by, of 


160 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


a character to make Bob’s flesh creep, had he 
been present to hear it. Tressie clapped her 
hands faintly, as though delighted because after 
all the affair was not to turn out quite a fizzle ; 
which action surprised the sailor lad not a lit- 
tle, for he had not thought the girl more valiant 
than himself. 

“ Where was it?” he demanded. 

“To the left, in the lower bunk,” said Tressie, 
her bright eyes flashing with excitement and 
eagerness. 

Julian advanced directly to the several bunks 
on the left. Then he made a startling discov- 
ery ; a man was in the lower bunk, tied securely 
with withes, after the high-binder method, so 
that he was utterly unable to more than move ; 
and possibly some instrument of torture, such as 
only a Chinaman could invent, prevented him 
from making a sound beyond a groan. 

This relieved his mind of a horror he had 
felt in connection with contagious disease, and 
he no longer hesitated to touch the captive, 
though the rags and tatters made him shudder. 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


161 


Taking hold, he dragged the unknown ont upon 
the floor, so that he might be better able to cut 
his bonds. 

To his amazement, he looked upon the 
bearded face of a foreigner, perhaps an Anglo- 
Saxon, though abuse had made him a shadow of 
what he once might have been. He had his eyes 
open, and saw the gleam of the steel as the blade 
was drawn across the withes ; perhaps he imag- 
ined his end must have come, for he closed his 
eyes suddenly at about the instant his bonds 
fell off. 

Casting aside the weapon Julian bent over the 
poor fellow, uttering words of cheer ; hut it was 
to deaf ears he addressed himself, for the man 
had fainted. 

“Get Bob down here to help me carry him on 
deck,” he said to the girl, who immediately 
darted forth on her errand of mercy, filled with 
pity for the poor victim of the Chinese pirates. 

Bob came hastily, even if he did cast wary 
glances to the right and to the left as if in fear 
of Kwang’s pet devil. Willingly he took hold 


162 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


and between them the unconscious stranger was 
lugged from the foul-smelling forecastle up on 
to the deck. 

Here in the shade of the sail they laid him 
down, where the cooling breeze might fan his 
bearded cheeks and help revive him. Bob ran 
for some water, but before he got back the man’s 
eyes opened again and he looked up into Jul- 
ian’s and Tressie’s faces with amazement and 
delight. 

“ Is it a dream!” he muttered, trembling with 
eagerness. 

Julian assured him it was not, and that him- 
self and companions were truly of flesh, that 
they had been wrecked, and had found the drift- 
ing junk in time to save themselves from a 
watery grave, and that they gladly welcomed 
another unfortunate to their ranks— if food or 
water would give him immediate satisfaction he 
had only to mention his wishes to have them 
granted. Whereupon, the poor chap actually 
wept, he was so happy over the wonderful 
change that had taken place in his prospects. 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


163 


Kwang, who had stared open-mouthed while 
they were carrying his Fung-Shuy out of the 
depths, now ran to bring water, and Tressie sped 
to the cook’s galley, where the fire still burned, 
and she could speedily get something calculated 
to give the abandoned sailor immediate succor. 

Julian could see unmistakable signs that the 
unfortunate had been a sailor and it was only 
natural his heart should go out to him with un- 
usual force; because he, too, had a father in 
exile, supposed to be enduring tortures among 
the cruel natives of the South China coast. 
What if this man should prove to possess some 
knowledge of that dear one whom he sought; 
what a miraculous thing it would be that he of 
all persons had been appointed to rescue him 
from death. 

“You have been a prisoner among evil men, I 
take it!” he could not keep from asking, with 
the light of anticipation in his eyes. The man 
nodded, though his ability to speak was fast re- 
turning, as his exclamation at sight of them 
proved. 


164 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


“Has it been very long since yon fell into 
their hands !” continued Julian. 

“All of seven years, sir,” returned the hairy 
one. 

The boy began to tremble, for it was just 
about that length of time since his father had 
disappeared from the face of the earth, and was 
last seen in this locality; could it be that this 
man would prove to be a messenger, sent by a 
merciful Heaven, to tell him the story, and re- 
move the mystery that had so long been a tor- 
ture to his soul! 

“And the name of your ship! Can you tell 
me that!” he asked. 

4 ‘ Aye, that I can, young sir, and I never want 
to sail the blue seas in a better craft than was 
the old Evangeline.” 

Julian swallowed something that seemed to 
stick in his throat; for that had been the name 
of his father’s ship, the luckless one on which 
he had taken his fatal voyage that had proved 
his last cruise. 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


165 


“Tell me, are you Mate Merriwether ?’ ’ he 
managed to ask, with quivering lips. 

“Ajax Merriwether it was, though so many 
years have dragged by since last I heard it 
spoken that I began to doubt. But how should 
you know? Wherever have I met so likely a 
young lad as you? Seven years, sure, you’d 
have been but a small chap that far hack. ’ ’ 

Julian had groped for the hard hand of the 
bearded man, and when he found it he squeezed 
it fiercely, while he was saying, brokenly: 

“Oh, Mate Merriwether, don’t you know, 
I’m the boy who gave you the knife on your 
birthday, and who rode on your shoulders when 
a little chap? Now you understand— I’m Jul- 
ian ! ” he cried, for there was an answering pres- 
sure that told of awakened recollection. 

The man staggered to his feet, holding on to 
the bamboo boom, for such was his excitement 
that he could no longer remain there on the 
deck. 

“Julian, you Julian, the Captain’s lad? Such 


166 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


a tall and manly fellow, it doesn’t seem possi- 
ble ; it ’s hard to believe, ’ ’ he kept muttering. 

“But it is, all the same, and this is a happy 
hour for me. Now, I may know the truth and be 
rid of this agony of torture. Tell me, is father 
yet alive!” 

His whole soul seemed wrapped up in the 
question, and no doubt his very heart stopped 
beating, such was the suspense under which he 
labored. 

“He was, two weeks ago, when I escaped from 
the island. More than that, I’m unable to say, 
lad; but the chances are ten to one the Captain 
is still in the land o’ the living!” answered the 
other, heartily. 

Julian staggered back as weak as the emanci- 
pated man before him, for joy is able to steal 
one’s strength as well as sorrow; and it was a 
wonderful revelation to this brave lad to hear 
that after they had mourned these seven years 
for the good Captain who came not back after 
his vessel disappeared in the treacherous China 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


167 


Sea, the parent whom he had loved so well was 
not dead, but yet abode in the flesh, a forlorn 
captive, it seemed, hut, thank Heaven, still alive 
and yearning after his dear ones across the seas. 


CHAPTER XIV. 

MATE MERRIWETHER ’s STORY. 

Tressie had heard all this with wonder and 
delight, for she knew ahont the strange mission 
that had brought Julian so far away from his 
home across the wide sea. Perhaps in his hap- 
piness she saw her own misery the more plainly, 
for had she not been deprived of a father’s af- 
fection recently; hut, brave girl that she was, 
this feeling found no expression in words or 
looks to mar the new-found ecstasy of her young 
champion and protector. She was close by in 
the galley making sandwiches while the coffee 
heated, and every word came plainly to her ears. 

Presently Julian recovered to some degree, 
and was able to ask questions, and the way in 
which he bombarded Merriwether with these 


168 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


169 


kept that old salt busy framing answers. Then 
Tressie called them all into the cabin to have 
supper, as the evening was close at hand, and 
over this meal the late prisoner of the buccan- 
eers was made to repeat all he had said, and add 
to it such facts as had any hearing on the sub- 
ject. Thus by degrees they had the whole story, 
and Julian hung on everything that had a con- 
nection with his father, much as a miser might 
huddle over his shining gold. Picture to your- 
self, if you can, what Julian’s emotions must 
have been under such strange circumstances, and 
surely it will appear that he had good reason for 
unusual excitement, that caused all other things 
to drift away from his mind. 

Long they sat around listening as though en- 
tranced, while Merriwether told how the ship 
was wrecked, leaving himself, the Captain and 
several others of the crew in the hands of those 
who plied the trade of wreckers when fortune 
blew hot, and who varied life with more or less 
piratical business when the opportunity came 
their way, and a luckless ship was becalmed off 


170 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


the coast. The life they led among these wild 
spirits it would take days to describe; and he 
only gave them a few glimpses of its most strik- 
ing features, leaving the balance for future oc- 
casions ; but there was enough to show how sav- 
agely they had been treated, how they were 
forced to work like slaves, and what agonies 
they suffered mentally, the Captain especially 
on account of his family, over their inability to 
escape from their masters. 

These lawless people were a mixture of 
Chino-Malay blood, making about as villainous 
a combination as could be imagined; indeed, 
Mate Merriwether declared their equal for 
treachery and murderous qualities did not exist 
on the face of the earth, and surely a man who 
had spent thirty years sailing the seas, from the 
Arctic regions all the way to Patagonia and New 
Zealand, associating with almost every known 
species of mankind, ought to know. 

Then he told of several desperate attempts 
which he and the Captain had made toward es- 
caping, and what hard luck seemed to follow 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


171 


them, so that they were dragged hack into bond- 
age again and treated more severely on account 
of giving their captors so much trouble. 

Never had Captain Roxbury entirely lost his 
faith in a kind Providence, and it had been he 
who had raised the despondent spirits of his 
friend when the situation looked blackest. 

“He’s the grandest Christian gentleman on 
the face of the earth,” declared Merriwetlier en- 
thusiastically, when he had related how his 
Captain cared for him during a visitation of the 
plague to the camp, when men and women were 
dying all around them; and it may he certain 
that Julian mentally echoed all the praise he 
showered on the brave officer. 

Finally Merri wether, at the solicitation of 
Bob, who was content now to let Kwang Chow 
steer, while he hung over the story-teller, started 
to relate the more recent event, as to how he had 
managed to escape, and with his usual had luck, 
fallen once more into the hands of the pirates 
who manned the Half-Moon . 

“I didn’t want to go a bit, without the Cap- 


172 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


tain, but lie commanded me to try, for if I got 
away I could send an expedition to rescue him. 
You see, he was kept in chains after our last es- 
cape, that is at night when we weren’t working, 
and it was impossible for me to get him free, 
while I had a chance to seize a boat and cut for 
it. 

“Finally the time came when I had to say 
farewell, and it nigh broke my heart, for you see 
we had been all in all to one another seven years, 
and before that always good friends; but he 
forced me to accept my chance, and I left him 
there. God knows my heart nearly broke, lad, 
but he would not listen to a refusal, and I swore 
that if I got away nothing under Heaven would 
keep me from coming back to save him if still 
alive, or at the worst to avenge. 

“I was followed and chased ailiong the islands 
just as you would follow a hare in the scrub; 
sometimes they thought they had me, when by 
turning on my tracks I’d give the beggars the 
slip. For days they let me have no chance to get 
out in the open, but I never showed the white 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


173 


feather, and kept working my boat here and 
there, hiding in the daytime when I could, skip- 
ping here and there in the dark, trying to get by ; 
till at last the time came, and I made a desperate 
dash for it, as my stock of grub was running 
low, and something had to happen or my game 
was busted. 

“I was unlucky, for they got wind of me, and 
this junk followed close at my heels ; but through 
the whole night and into the next day I slipped 
along like a ghost, always just ahead of their 
fingers, dodging as only a sailor born and bred 
knows how to do. It was a rare old chase, lad, 
and only for the big hazard on it I’d have en- 
joyed the thing immensely; but I was playing 
for his life and mine, and so you see that took 
the fun out of it all. 

“Many times they banged away at me with 
their gingal and some matchlocks they had; but 
I laid low whenever I saw them getting ready, 
and the only damage was to my sails or the hull 
of my rickety boat. 

“I don’t know how the game would have 


174 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


ended, for if I could have kept free till dark 
again I stood some chance of running off ; but as 
misfortune had it, an hour or so before sunset 
there came a sudden puff of wind so furious 
that as I was dodging under the hull at the 
time to escape a shower of lead, it tore me 
around with a whirl, and the beggarly craft cap- 
sized. 

“That cooked my goose, to be sure, and it 
wasn’t long before they yanked me out of the 
drink, and pounded me with savage delight. I 
really believe the scoundrels would have killed 
me on the spot, they were that mad, only the 
wind turned into a gale and that into a typhoon 
that promised to send us all to Davy Jones’ 
locker in a hurry. 

“Well, they triced me up as you found me, 
and stuck me in a bunk just as if I was a mum- 
my like those I’ve seen in Egypt; and there I’ve 
lain ever since, thinking a thousand times my 
last hour had come, and then gaining a little 
hope when the old hooker kept her sea-legs 
through it all. 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


175 


“I knew when the crew deserted, for it was 
shouted that the junk was foundering, and the 
wildest terror arose, when men forgot they were 
human beings, and fought like beasts to get into 
the boats. 

‘ ‘ Fools that they were, when the chances were 
ten times as good on board ; yet with that panic 
among them they could not reckon, and conse- 
quently went to their fate, for the sea was some- 
thing awful at the time they shoved off. What 
I thought and what I suffered are things never 
to be told, but after going through what I had 
for seven long years I was able to crush down 
any weakness and face my fate decently. Some- 
times I dozed, but whether for minutes or hours 
I couldn’t tell you, only that I seemed to be 
gradually getting numb about the limbs, as 
though paralyzed by the tight cords, which 
nothing I could do would break. 

“I knew when you came aboard, but thought 
it must be the crew returned by some strange 
freak of fate; and by that time I was caring 
mighty little about such things ; for when a man 


176 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


has only a choice between death and the misery 
of a slave life among such surroundings as that 
piratical nest, he ’s ready to accept his billet with 
resignation. And then, dear hoys, the joy that 
nearly overwhelmed me when first I heard Eng- 
lish spoken at my side. It seemed to me my 
heart would burst with delight; yet for the life 
of me I couldn’t imagine who you were; and 
then again I feared it was only my poor brain 
wandering, for many times I had thought I heard 
steps somewhere about the junk, when not a liv- 
ing soul could be within twenty miles of me. 

“Now, that’s the story in a nutshell, my boys, 
and you know how I chanced to he in the nasty 
fix you found me in. Though I hoped to return 
for my Captain with a British man-o’-war and 
blow their accursed village to smithereens, still 
I accept even this chance to rescue him ; and the 
fact that it’s his hoy who heads the expedition 
fills my heart with emotion. 

“Depend on it, we’ll make a desperate effort 
to carry him off, and something seems to tell me 
success is going to reward us. I can imagine 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


177 


what happiness must come to my old shipmate 
when he finds that the little chap he was never 
tired of talking about has grown into a fine fel- 
low, and launched out into the world to look his 
father up.” 

So Mate Merriwether talked and the red crept 
into Julian’s cheeks under his lavish praise, 
though he could not see how he merited it; for 
surely he had done next to nothing as yet, save 
to start on his search ; and according to his mind 
no decent lad could ever have been content to 
remain at home, enjoying the fruits of peace, 
while it was whispered that his beloved parent 
was at that hour held as a slave by the unruly 
spirits haunting the pestilential shores of South- 
ern China. 

Their plans were vague enough; but it was 
understood that could they but gain shelter 
among the islands where Merriwether beat 
about so long when mocking the pursuit of the 
enemy, they might remain in hiding until the 
time was propitious to make a swoo} town on 
the pirate stronghold and accomplish their 


178 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


work. Much would have to he left to the man 
who had been thrown upon their hands in such a 
remarkable manner; and as he knew the whole 
region, after living in the hands of the natives 
seven long years, they could profit by it to avoid 
discovery. 

Already the very possibility of success 
thrilled Julian, and in imagination he could see 
himself in the arms of that dear one so long 
given up as dead. Oh, the blessed opportunity 
that had come to him ! How thankful he should 
be over this Providential meeting with Mate 
Merriwether ! That worthy already looked 
twice the man he was when they found him, 
pinched, half-starved and wholly given up to 
despair, for there is nothing that puts new life 
in a man more than warm food and the society 
of friends. This was especially true with a poor 
fellow who had not heard English spoken save 
by his fellow prisoner, for long years that 
stretched behind him like a hideous nightmare. 

Tressie had hung on every word, as though 
entranced, for she rejoiced in the great happi- 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


179 


ness that seemed looming up for Julian, to 
whom she felt she owed so much. Bravely she 
tried to forget her own hitter woe, in order that 
her lonely condition should not keep him from 
enjoying his richly deserved prospects. AU 
ready had he assured her that in case her parent 
was never again to turn up, she would always 
find a home with his mother and sisters, of whom 
he had never wearied of telling; and it was little 
wonder then that Tressie loved the tall lad like a 
brother. 

While they thus talked and formed plans, the 
day was closing in around them, and the sturdy 
old junk boomed straight along, heading into 
the southwest, just as Merriwether would have 
wished, her tiller lashed, and the soft breeze 
filling her queer matting sails. Julian spoke of 
the land which he was sure he had sighted just 
before the finding of the imprisoned mate, and 
Merriwether assured them this must be the ar- 
chipelago of which he had spoken, consisting of 
a number of small islands, serving as buffers to 


180 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


the larger one upon which the pirates had their 
nest. 

If they kept straight on the chances were they 
could gain the shelter of these wooded islands, 
with their narrow and tortuous channels be- 
tween, ere the dawn betrayed their coming to 
keen eyes ever on the lookout upon the tower 
of observation used by the pirates to spy out 
expected prey. 

The ex-mate was in the midst of a description 
of the surroundings of the Hawk’s Nest, as he 
called the collection of huts and tents forming 
the village of the sea-plunderers, when there 
came a shrill outcry that electrified each and 
every one in the cabin, so that there was a gen- 
eral scrambling to gain their feet, and Tressie 
clutched the arm of her protector, girl fashion. 

There was something strangely familiar about 
the racket that caused Bob to throw up his hands 
and exclaim, dramatically: “It’s that old sin- 
ner, Kwang Chow, and he ’s got ’em again. An- 
other devil has appeared to his vision, and this 
time perhaps it may be the genuine article,” 



“WHY, IT'S OLD FALSTAFF!” CRIED MERRIWETHER. 

(Page 186.) 













ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


181 


was what he spouted; hut Julian began to have 
fears that it might he something of a more ser- 
ious nature threatening them. 


CHAPTER XV. 


KWANG CHOW TRIES IT AGAIN. 

They all ran out of the cabin in hot haste, and 
found Kwang doubled up on the deck as though 
suddenly seized with cramps and rattling off a 
lot of jargon in his own language that seemed 
to be an appeal to the gods to spare him once 
more, and he would spend more time and money 
in bowing before the great joss, with prayer- 
papers and offerings galore. It appeared as 
though the Chinaman had been made the recip- 
ient of another bad scare, and Julian glanced 
about him hastily with the idea of locating the 
source of danger; but nothing out of the usual 
met his eye. Then he bent over the waterman 
and shook him by the sleeve, while demanding 
of him an explanation of his strange conduct. 

182 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


183 


His influence over Kwang was strong enough 
to cause the fellow to at least take the American 
boy into his confidence, for he chattered like a 
monkey, with Julian putting in an occasional 
question straight to the point. Presently the 
latter turned toward his friends, and Bob, who 
was watching his face as though it might be a 
barometer telling the state of the weather, saw 
him smile, which relieved the English lad not a 
little. 

“It seems that there ’s another ghost aboard 
this wonderful craft, and if we keep on we’ll 
have a shipload yet, though if they turned out 
as well as his last it would be a fine thing,” was 
what Julian remarked. Bob began to look se- 
rious, for that little streak of superstition in his 
nature would crop out and show itself in spite of 
his resolution and scorn. 

Tressie laughed, utterly undismayed. “Oh, 
how lucky that is, for we may still have a chance 
to see a real ghost, such as Kwang believes in. 
Ask him to show us where this one has his lodg- 
ings, for no one but Kwang seems to have any 


184 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


luck in finding them. As for me, why, I’d hunt 
all day if I thought I could discover a ghost,” 
she said in her old-time merry way; and the 
mate looked approvingly on, for his heart had 
warmed amazingly toward this pretty, rosy- 
cheeked girl, who had not been afraid to venture 
upon the boisterous seas with her father, who 
was a sailor. 

‘ ‘ He ’s told me where to find this old chap al- 
ready, but all the coaxing on earth could not get 
Kwang to lead the expedition, not much. So, if 
you care about joining the party of search, come 
with me. ’ ’ 

Even Boh made a move, though he looked back 
once or twice as if wondering whether it might 
not he dangerous to leave the tiller unwatched 
so long ; and sails bellying out before the steady 
breeze were known to play tricks with vessels 
at times ; still curiosity as well as shame at be- 
ing outdone in valor by a girl kept him from 
backing out after Julian made his invitation so 
general, so that three came behind the leader of 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


185 


the expedition when he started below decks 
again. 

This time it was not forward hut aft that Ju- 
lian turned his attention. It appeared that there 
had been a small space there which in the hur- 
ried inspection he had given the craft on com- 
ing aboard must have been missed, and as is so 
often the case this unexplored territory proved 
to contain more of interest than the greater sec- 
tion which his eye had traversed. 

Kwang had continued his investigations, un- 
der the impression that he might come across 
something in the shape of a smoke ; and for the 
second time his groping, talon-like fingers had 
come in contact with a squirming body tucked 
away in a niche, and which had given a dismal 
groan on being disturbed. 

Julian bent down and looked, holding the lan- 
tern so that its rays would fall upon the object 
of his curiosity; and he made out almost in- 
stantly that poor Kwang ’s second apparition 
was a badly demoralized specimen of humanity, 
in the shape of a John Chinaman, probably one 


186 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


of the former crew left behind through some 
freak of fate when the others fled the ship. 

Accordingly, he laid hold on the shrinking 
figure, though meeting with some feeble resist- 
ance. Finally, when there was no longer any 
possibility of the fellow retaining his position, 
he gave way of a sudden, and rolling into view 
flopped on hands and knees directly before the 
young skipper, belching out a volley of inartic- 
ulate phrases that seemed to form a prayer for 
mercy, since his hands were upraised. 

“Why, it’s old Falstaff !” cried Merriwether, 
in surprise, and at the same time he laughed as 
though amused. Indeed, anyone might well be 
pardoned for smiling at the appearance of the 
fat wretch who now clung to Julian’s knees, an 
expression of absolute terror upon his features, 
for he had recognized Merriwether, and re- 
membering all the indignities that had been 
heaped on that worthy during his long period of 
captivity, believed the hour of judgment had ar- 
rived. 

“What! A Chinaman called Falstaff f” 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


187 


questioned Julian, remembering that this was 
the stout and merry comrade of bluff Prince Hal 
in Old England some centuries ago, while Bob 
nodded his head as though echoing the question. 

“Oh, it isn’t his real name by a long shot; 
that would twist your tongue all out of shape 
for a week to say it right ; but the Captain and 
me we always called him Falstaff, because you 
see he’s so fat, and besides, is a comical critter, 
connected in some way with the raising of an 
army of defense. We don’t owe him much of 
an account, though he did once kick me ; but per- 
haps I was to blame, and, any way, I don’t bear 
malice, not now, when things seem to be going 
our way.” 

About this time Julian noted a frightened 
face poking around a corner, and which he 
knew full well belonged to Kwang, who, per- 
haps impelled by fear of being left alone with 
mysterious demons traveling around loose, as 
well as a natural curiosity to see what happened 
to his friends when they invaded the domain of 
the Evil Spirit, had crept after them and was 


188 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


now staring hard at the groveling figure, per- 
haps trying to make it correspond in his mind 
with his conception of the terrible. 

A word to Bob and that worthy had seized on 
the startled Kwang, dragging him forward, de- 
spite his resistance. 

He calmed down after Julian had spoken a 
few sentences in pidgin-English, and consented 
to look squarely at the supposed ghost. As the 
fat buccaneer chanced to open his slant eyes 
about the same time, a sort of soul communion 
was established between them then and there, 
for they nodded their heads so violently that 
their queues became dislodged, and Merri- 
wether declared they had found out that both 
belonged to the same guild or secret society, 
though never having met before. This was in- 
teresting. Perhaps these Orientals had turned 
out to be Free Masons. 

“Tell him,” said Julian, “that he won’t be 
hurt if he behaves himself, and doesn’t try to 
play us false; but that if he plays any tricks 


ADBIFT ON A JUNK 


189 


we’ll cut off his queue and torture him with a 
red-hot iron.” 

Wien the substance of this was translated to 
the other he made violent manifestations of ap- 
proval, and apparently vowed by all the heathen 
deities that he would serve his new masters 
faithfully, or they could carry out their dire 
threat. 

“We can trust him just as far as we can see 
him,” was the practical comment of Merri- 
wether. 

Indeed, our friends, while rejoiced to find 
they were not to have the pleasure of a haunted 
junk after all, had already found cause for re- 
gret that so unwelcome an addition had been 
made to their number. This clumsy buffoon 
could hardly be of any service to them, and 
might cause considerable trouble sooner or later, 
when they were hiding among the islands, try- 
ing to keep the secret of their presence from the 
eyes and ears of the outlaws controlling the coast 
regions. 

Secretly, Merriwether resolved to keep his 


190 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


eye on the other and at the first sign of treach- 
ery wind up his merry career. He personally 
instituted a search of the fellow’s belt and such 
other portions of his raiment as might hide 
nasty weapons, and while the result did not 
fully compensate for the trouble, still it relieved 
their minds more or less concerning the possi- 
bility of his doing them personal injury at some 
future time. Escorted by the group, the fat 
buccaneer was taken on deck. 

Here Merriwether asked for the marine 
glasses and took a squint around the horizon, im- 
mediately announcing that the land to be seen 
lying low under the sky-line was undoubtedly 
the cluster of islands which had occupied so 
prominent a place in the thrilling if brief story 
connected with his recent adventures. 

Imagine, if you can, the feelings of Julian 
when he heard that he was now actually gazing 
on the bit of land that for seven long years had 
been the prison of that loved and mourned pa- 
rent. Would he be able to rescue that prisoner 
of the isles 1 That must prove a favor more ac- 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


191 


ceptable to him than the wealth of the Indies, 
something calculated to bless his whole future 
existence ; and, oh, the glorious triumph of being 
able to restore the long-lost one to those gentle 
hearts that had mourned so sadly all these years. 

Through the night their progress continued 
to be all they could wish, and Merriwether was 
positive they should be in among the islands be- 
fore dawn. Many a time had he mapped out a 
scheme looking to the undoing of the pirates 
when his day should arrive, and now some of 
these clever plans could be utilized, even if he 
did not have a cruiser or a gunhoat in his com- 
pany. With a sailor’s caution Merriwether was 
surveying the heavens, looking to see whether 
there might be any change from the very favor- 
able conditious now controlling matters; for his 
experience with typhoons was of a character to 
make him skeptical. 

Julian waited to hear his judgment with no 
little anxiety, for he fancied he had detected 
some symptoms of gathering trouble off in that 
southeastern district where the winds herded, 


192 


ADKIFT ON A JUNK 


waiting to be let loose upon unwary travelers 
o’er the great deep. 

“Something may spring up by morning, lad, 
and then again it’s just as likely to go around 
another way. This here seems to be one of the 
cases where a good glass is the only sure guide. 
Let’s hope for the best, and that if it does drop 
down on us we’ll be snug among the islands, in 
a cove I know of, where we can laugh at all the 
hurricanes that ever blew.” 

When supper had been finished, the light was 
extinguished, for, as they were constantly ap- 
proaching the land, and the lookout in the tower 
of the village perched upon the side of the hill 
maintained a never-ceasing watch, there was al- 
ways a chance that their presence would be sus- 
pected, and a few proas push out in the dark to 
see who they were. This was just what Merri- 
wether desired to avoid, as there could not be 
too much secrecy to please him. Accordingly 
from this time on they must continue to advance 
in the dark, trusting to the sagacity of the mate 
to take them to his secret nook by dawn. Julian 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


193 


had noticed several tiny spots against the darker 
background of the land, and although nothing 
was said about the matter he had a suspicion 
that these might he boats belonging to the pirat- 
ical community, hovering about the offing with 
some purpose in view; and later developments 
proved him to be very close to the truth in his 
reasoning. 


CHAPTER XVI. 


AMONG THE PIKATE ISLANDS. 

The night wore on, and it seemed as though 
the elements were in league with them at last, 
for the wind continued to waft the junk forward 
hour after hour, not swiftly hut steadily, so that 
it became evident that as the night grew old they 
must be approaching the cluster of small islands, 
amid which Merriwether hoped to hide until 
they found an opportunity to carry out the bal- 
ance of their plan. Either Julian or the mate 
made it a point to be on deck all the time, for 
fear something might happen to play havoc with 
their carefully laid arrangements. 

It was well on toward the time when they 
might expect to catch the first glimpse of coming 
dawn. The breeze had died out, while the stars 
194 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


195 


no longer dotted the heavens, proving that a 
change of some sort was impending. Julian 
called Merriwether on deck for a consultation, 
and Bob came, too, having an inkling as to what 
was wrong. 

The situation had a precarious look, for they 
must be close in by the islands, and the coming 
of day would disclose their presence to the look- 
out in the Hawk’s Nest, with a result that would 
not be very pleasant. 

“Get out the oars and put Falstaff to work. 
I’ve seen him dig before now, and you’h be sur- 
prised what a pull he has for such a hippopota- 
mus. With a mate like your Kwang they’ll 
make the water-logged old hooker fairly jump, ’ ’ 
was Merriwether ’s characteristic way of put- 
ting forward his opinion. So the two Chinamen 
were given a chance to show what they could do 
in the way of rowing. Progress would have 
been very sluggish, indeed, but for the fact that 
the tide favored them. 

Julian was near the how, straining his 
eyes through the gloom that stretched before 


196 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


them. The mate came up behind him, not a lit- 
tle anxious himself, for he had staked much on 
their reaching shelter before dawn came to ruin 
their prospects. 

“Do you see anything, lad?” he asked, anx- 
iously, sweeping his keen eyes to the right and 
to the left, for the darkness was not quite as 
dense as a short time back, and it became possi- 
ble to see further away. ‘ ‘ Look ! ’ ’ he exclaimed, 
before Julian had a chance to answer, and his 
hand became set, with the index finger pointing 
toward a twinkling light that lay very low down 
along the horizon, and which Julian had sup- 
posed must be some star about to take the 
plunge out of sight in the west; “that’s the light 
on the tower ; they keep one there always during 
the night, making it something of a light-house 
for their wandering craft. Now, I have my di- 
rections, and we want to bear off sharply to the 
right. See, what did I say? Surely, that is a 
tree against the gray sky?” 

Julian, having his attention turned to the new 
quarter, at once announced his belief that the 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


197 


mate was right. Immediately the course was al- 
tered, and soon the trees became so distinct that 
everyone recognized their character, and the 
twain at the oars worked harder than ever, 
Kwang having to strain himself not a little to 
keep on a par with the tremendous exertions of 
the fat buccaneer, who labored as though he had 
some object in view. 

Nearer still, and Julian stood by the side of 
the mate at the tiller, keeping his eyes fastened 
on the shore line that began to unroll before 
them like a panorama. 4 ‘Well, we won’t get in 
shelter any too soon for several reasons. Day- 
light is close at hand, and listen to the mutter of 
the storm away back yonder , 9 1 said Merriwether, 
under his breath. As the young fellow turned 
around he was just in time to see an electric 
sword slash the dusky sky back yonder over the 
stern of the junk, while the deep-toned growl of 
thunder announced the advent of a tropical 
storm. 

Merriwether was looking for the opening, 
and in this dim light, which was also very decep- 


198 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


tive, it was no easy task to discover so small a 
split in the rocks that reared themselves in front. 
He had not examined these shores from time to 
time during the seven years without impressing 
every little detail on his memory, and when they 
came abreast of the narrow channel he did not 
mean to let it escape him. Julian’s nerves were 
wrought up to a tension bordering on the hyster- 
ical ; when suddenly he heard Merriwether utter 
an exclamation, and at the same time saw him 
sweep the tiller hard-a-port, bringing the vessel 
around, and heading directly toward the land. 

“Have those joss-men do less splashing. 
We’re safe now from the storm, and our only 
danger is in attracting attention, should any 
boat be lying in one of the channels, as some- 
times happens when they are caught outside 
with the coming of night. Softer still ; no hurry 
at all,” whispered the mate, as the jaws of land 
rose up on either side of them, and they began 
to glide into a narrow channel that immediately 
turned and twisted in a manner to effectually 
shut out the sea and fashion an ideal refuge 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


199 


from tlie furious billows and the sweep of the 
hurricane. Kwang saw to it that his comrade 
at the sweeps kept silence, for he had given him 
to understand what fate would overtake him 
should he do the least thing looking toward be- 
traying them to the buccaneers. 

Under the instructions of the mate all of them 
kept out of sight as much as possible, save the 
two Chinamen, so that in case hostile eyes fell 
on the laboring craft, while they were working 
toward their hiding place, the enemy might eas- 
ily imagine everything was serene. The storm 
now burst with considerable fury, and it was 
lucky indeed for the adventurous whites that 
they had found so snug a shelter before the wind 
demons began to riot out there on the bosom of 
the sea; for had they been caught so near the 
shore by the terrific gale nothing could have 
prevented the Half-Moon from being dashed 
upon the treacherous rocks and broken into 
fragments. 

It was a very dramatic entry into harbor; 
what with the booming of thunder, the howling 


200 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


of the wind, the deep-toned roar of the awakened 
sea monster, as his gigantic waves lashed the 
shore, while the tropical lightnings flashed zig- 
zag across the heavens with a terrible signifi- 
cance Julian had never seen equaled. Through 
it all Merriwether calmly directed the course of 
the craft, nor did he mind the tremendous down- 
pour of rain that for the time being fairly blot- 
ted out the shore-line, dim enough before; but 
holding the junk in check until the worst had 
swept by, he again urged the almost panic- 
stricken voyagers to resume their pulling, his 
own coolness inspiring them with renewed con- 
fidence. 

The more intricate the passage became the 
better Merriwether liked it ; showing that he had 
not wasted his time when compelled to labor in 
this vicinity in the interests of his captors. Fre- 
quently there was a choice of passages, but not 
once did he hesitate, as every inch of this re- 
markable region was as familiar to him as the 
environs of a village would be to one born and 
brought up there; how frequently had he gone 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


201 


through this program in the dreary days of his 
captivity, looking forward to the time when for- 
tune would allow him to make a desperate dash 
for freedom, and arranging little details with all 
the care of a general on the eve of a great cam- 
paign. That preparation was now to hear fruit. 

Once Julian saw something that gave him a 
cold chill, and while he spoke not a word, he 
clutched the sleeve of Merriwether ’s garment 
and pointed to the right, where they had a fleet- 
ing glimpse of a proa half-hidden in a secure la- 
goon that formed one of many watery niches on 
either hand. Only for a brief few seconds was 
this spectacle before their eyes, and then an- 
other furious squall of rain shut it out; when 
this in turn had died away the junk had made 
such progress forward that the lagoon was left 
in the lurch. 

Had they been seen? Were there keen eyes 
aboard the Malay proa to note the passage of 
the other boat, and would these fellows recog- 
nize her build as of the ill-fated Half-Moon ? 

Merriwether gave him to understand present- 


202 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


ly that they were now approaching a turn in the 
channel that would lead to a section seldom if 
ever visited by the people of the island colony, 
which fact had caused him to explore it many 
times when he had the opportunity, with an eye 
to this day when he should be hiding from their 
keen vision. 

Navigation became even more difficult when 
they had entered this slender thread of water 
which Merriwether announced led to his hidden 
harbor ; but at the helm they had one who knew 
his ground, and with a long experience back of 
him so far as handling clumsy junks was con- 
cerned; so that they scraped past jaws of rock, 
twisted suddenly around abrupt corners, and 
performed all manner of marvelous feats, finally 
bringing up in a nook the mate seemed to have 
arranged for their comfort. 

Julian pronounced it an ideal harbor, from 
which they could sally forth at the proper time, 
pounce upon the village of the freebooters, ac- 
complish their errand, and with luck favoring 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


203 


them be away with the night wind, leaving the 
islands hull-down, by dawn. 

That was the plan, and all they could do was 
to possess their souls in patience and wait for 
the proper hour to come. It would also he nec- 
essary to keep an eye on the fat sailor, who 
might be tempted to slip overboard and swim 
away to take the startling news of their arrival 
to his confederates. It was understood at the 
first sign of such treachery he was to be placed 
in durance vile ; or, if it happened to be Merri- 
wether who made the discovery of his double- 
dealing the chances were he would do something 
even more radical, for his wrongs pressed hard 
on his mind, and he had many past insults to 
urge him on to heroic treatment in the matter. 

Of course, no lights would be shown at any 
time, now that they were far within the danger 
zone; nor could a fire be made in the cook’s gal- 
ley, for fear lest the smoke betray them, so that 
they must put up with cold grub for a time. 

Merriwetlier was not easy about the fat Chink, 
and made up his mind the fellow should be put 


204 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


beyond the reach of temptation, lest in his weak- 
ness he attempt some indiscretion that would 
disturb the well-laid plans of the invaders. But 
when he came to look for Falstaff he found, to 
his dismay, that already the mountain of flesh 
had vanished, nor could Julian or Bob give him 
the least clew to the fellow’s present where- 
abouts. 


CHAPTER XVII. 

A TRICK OF THE PEARL-DIVERS. 

The discovery connected with the strange dis- 
appearance of the fat Chinaman filled Merri- 
wether with apprehension, for it threatened to 
bring disaster to plans that had seemed in a fair 
way toward achieving success. 

There was a commotion aboard the old junk, 
Boh running one way, his friend another, while 
the mate scanned the water in the hope that if 
their bulky prisoner had taken it into his head 
to go overboard he might not yet have passed 
beyond the range of a pair of keen eyes. 

Kwang Chow remained at his post beside the 
now useless tiller, smoking his pipe, having act- 
ually discovered some treasure below, that, to 
Merriwether, had the suspicious odor of opium. 

205 


206 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


Just as the old mate was hurrying past the old 
Hongkong waterman it occurred to him that as 
Kwang had been on deck the whole time he 
might know something about the disappearance 
of the other; so, without much hope of success 
he turned on him, asking in the Chinese dialect, 
which, of course, he had picked up during the 
years of his captivity : 

“ Where is the fat one? We want him very 
bad.” 

Kwang Chow looked as though he were in a 
trance, his yellow face expressing nothing but 
serene contentment. 

“ It is very important that we find him ; he will 
go to his people and tell them we are here, ’ ’ con- 
tinued the mate ; but Kwang merely puffed out a 
tiny ring of smoke, and allowed one of his eye- 
lids to tremble. 

“They will come upon us. I shall be recap- 
tured, you will be made a pirate, Julian will be 
killed or kept as a slave all his life. ’ ’ 

That last was quite sufficient to arouse Kwang, 
for, strange to say, up to this moment he had 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


207 


not viewed tlie situation in this light, or consid- 
ered the dreadful result as concerned his young 
master. He became galvanized with sudden 
life; one eye opened, and then the other, his jaw 
dropped, allowing the pipe to fall to the deck, 
and then he gave utterance to a low cry. 

‘ ‘ Him over dere ! ’ 9 he said, motioning toward 
the side of the junk, and Merriwether knew from 
this that he had seen the other climb the rail 
with the intention of escaping. The mate knew 
the case was one requiring extreme haste rather 
than anything else, and he accordingly sprang 
to the side with the expectation of making a 
discovery; nor was he wrong in this surmise, for 
the very first thing his eyes beheld was the up- 
turned face of the Celestial elephant, staring at 
him from out of the water, his fat body being 
wholly immersed. 

Merriwether was about the last thing Falstaff 
hoped to see, for at the sight his saffron counte- 
nance took on an expression of absolute terror. 
Then his hands let go their hold, and the water 
closed over the Chinaman, pigtail and all. It 


208 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


was plain to the sturdy mate what his scheme 
might he, for his eye could detect his passage 
through the sea water by the hubbies that arose, 
just as he had many a time pursued a giant alli- 
gator in the Florida bayous through the same 
telltale means. 

Now, Ajax Merriwether was a man who did 
his acting first and puzzled out the whys and 
wherefores later on, when the object had been 
accomplished; so, being brought face to face 
with a difficulty, he, like Alexander, cut the gor- 
dian knot without scruple. In this urgent case 
he simply waited three seconds to throw off his 
ragged coat; shoes he did not have to bother 
about, being barefooted at the time; and with 
one last look to make sure concerning the direc- 
tion taken by his expected quarry he sprang 
squarely over the side of the junk. He dropped 
into the water head first, with the grace of a 
frog, disappearing temporarily from sight, so 
that J ulian running up at the splash was unable 
to discover any sign of him, and turned upon 
the speechless Kwang for some information. 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


209 


Meanwhile, as was to be expected, Falstaff 
had come to the surface, for it was with the 
greatest difficulty in the world that such a life- 
buoy of fat ever sank at all ; he turned a startled 
glance over his shoulder, doubtless suspecting 
that he would be followed, and having possibly 
heard the splash that marked the plunge of the 
lanky ex-mate over the side of the junk. Just 
then Merriwether’s head shot above the surface 
in his wake, and propelled by his lusty strokes, 
his body began to move toward the escaping 
Chinaman with considerable rapidity. 

Now began a race that possessed all the ele- 
ments of a comedy to those on the boat, although 
it was serious enough business to the wretched 
chap who puffed and spouted water, who swam 
hither and yon, seeking to gain by his knowledge 
of the currents, but without any success, and 
who finally tried to dive, but was unable to drag 
his corpulent frame under the surface, such ap- 
pearing to be the floating propensities of the 
fat with which it was clothed. Julian grinned 
and Bob roared under his breath, for he went 


210 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


through all the extravagant gestures of one who 
was enjoying a glorious laugh, even if little 
sound escaped his lips; for it was hilariously 
funny,' to them. 

Merriwether kept gaining all the time, a little 
here, and more on this tack, following with the 
grim determination that marks the pursuit of 
the gaunt gray wolf of the Siberian steppes 
when on the scent of his anticipated prey. Per- 
haps the wretched Falstaff would have shrieked 
aloud in his terror, in the faint hope that his 
voice might reach the ears of friends who fre- 
quented some of the passages among the islands, 
but what with his exertions, together with the 
amount of salt water which he had unwittingly 
swallowed in his immersion, he was not in a con- 
dition to utter a sound above a grunt like that 
of a spouting porpoise. 

Unable to remain below the surface of the 
water, and thus cheat Merriwether of his tri- 
umph, he realized that he must eventually give 
in, and accept what fate might have in store for 
him. It had evidently been his one ambition to 


ADEIFT ON A JUNK 


211 


reach the shore at a certain point, where there 
appeared to he a chance to scramble up the face 
of the rise; but the quick pursuit made by his 
rival, together with the swiftness of the cross- 
currents, prevented his carrying out this plan. 

While the sky was still overcast, the rain had 
in a great measure ceased, and the morning hav- 
ing advanced, it was possible to see with some 
degree of certainty the length of the lagoon in 
which the junk now lay at anchor. Accordingly, 
Julian was able to cast an occasional glance over 
the surface in search of signs that might indicate 
the presence of a shark, for he knew full well 
how general such piratical customers were in 
these waters connected with the warm China 
Sea. 

To his horror he suddenly detected a sword- 
like fin darting energetically hither and thither 
as though the man-eater had determined that 
something was going on in which he had a vital 
interest ; and even as Julian looked he saw the 
fin begin to move straight toward the spot where 
the two parties struggled in the tideway. Pru- 


212 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


dence was the last thing that occurred to the 
young fellow just then, and had it been possible 
to have accomplished anything he would have 
fired at the monster; he did raise his voice and 
shout: “ A shark, Merriwether, a shark, just 
behind you, man!” 

He saw the lanky ex-mate turn his head and 
leisurely survey the situation, nor could he de- 
tect aught of alarm upon his hairy face, though 
by this time the piratical tax-gatherer was close 
by, and forging ahead with considerable speed. 

Merriwether had seen something of the kind 
before, and did not possess the same feeling of 
horror toward the breed that gave Julian such 
a chill. He threw up his right arm, and those on 
the junk saw as he intended, that he held some- 
thing tightly gripped between his fingers; this 
he waved toward them, as much as to say there 
was really little cause for worry. 

“ That’s one of my knives, a ripper, too, such 
as they use in the South Sea Islands. I think he 
means to stick Mr. Shark just as I’ve seen na- 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


213 


tives do it at the pearl fisheries,” declared Bob, 
with admiration and awe in his voice. 

Had the shark been ahead so that the fat 
Chinaman became the object of his solicitude, 
possibly he might have secured his breakfast, 
for Falstaff was in no condition to make the 
least resistance; hut it was a different matter 
when the hungry monster attacked the lanky 
mate, for in that worthy he met his match. 

Just when Julian feared it was all up with 
Merriwether, who had possibly waited too long, 
he saw that the mate’s head no longer remained 
in sight above the surface, and a cry of horror 
broke from his lips. “It’s all right,” hurst out 
Boh, as if to relieve his harrowed feelings, “he’s 
only sunk to tackle the old chap underneath; 
there, look, what did I tell you! That was a 
slasher, now, and gave Mr. Shark the toothache, 
sure as pop. Come, there’s no use making so 
much fuss about it, old chap, since you would 
have it, you know, only the shoe is on the other 
foot now. Ouch! how it does hurt! Probably 
he’s gotten over being hungry now. And see, 


214 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


the water shows red even from here. Merri- 
wether’s the boy to lead the dance; only I hope 
the scent won’t stir up half a dozen other chaps 
of the same sort.” 

Julian had noticed all that his companion 
spoke about, and realized that the cunning swim- 
mer had dived under the shark at just the right 
second, giving an upward slash with his sharp 
blade that had opened a gap in the vitals of the 
big fish, causing him to flounder in agony, 
threshing the water after the manner of a steam- 
er ’s propeller running wild. 

“We must go to his assistance, Bob,” was 
what Julian called. 

He knew how it could be done, for they had 
found a small sampan in the lower part of the 
junk, in need of repairs, which Merriwether had 
managed to give at odd times, never dreaming 
that in so doing he might possibly be lengthen- 
ing his stay in this same old world. Bob saw 
what was in the bright mind of his fellow voy- 
ager, and being quick to take a hint, he sprang 
to help get the little boat into the water. 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


215 


Once this had been done, Julian seized a pad- 
dle and made a flying leap for the small craft, 
already moving off, they having neglected to 
fasten her. Luckily he landed safely in the boat, 
much to the relief of Tressie, who had come 
on deck to see what all this fuss might be about, 
and was just in the time to witness his plunge 
over the side. 

At once he began to work the paddle, and 
Julian made that ancient sampan dig through 
the water at a great rate, heading straight for 
the spot where he could see Merriwether once 
more upon the surface, and sheering off a trifle 
so as not to come within too close a radius of the 
shark’s dying struggles. 

The fat Chink seemed to have quite lost his 
desire to escape, for all he did was to paddle, 
helplessly here and there, waiting to be picked 
up, a look of abject woe upon his yellow face, 
for no matter which way he turned he seemed to 
be confronted with an impending fate. The 
mate swam over and clapped a hand upon his 
shoulder, as though by this means giving him to 


216 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


understand that he might consider himself once 
more under arrest, which Julian thought was 
rather a dramatic windup to the incident. 

Bob shouted that more saber-like fins were 
coming around the point of rocks, and that un- 
less they hurried they would have to go through 
with the business of shark sticking again, which 
possibly Merriwether might not enjoy; but 
Julian was already bearing down on the twain 
that awaited his coming, treading water mean- 
while, and the danger after all was remote. 

The plucky as well as generous mate proceed- 
ed to help his prisoner aboard. Falstaff was 
difficult to get into the boat, but when Julian fin- 
ally obtained a hold something had to come, and 
terror assisting the human elephant he managed 
to slide over the stern like a great log. Then 
Merriwether deigned to pull himself aboard, 
though giving a glance at the approaching fins 
as though strongly tempted to accept the gage 
of battle which their presence seemed to have 
offered. 


CHAPTER XVIII. 

TWO MEN IN A SAMPAN. 

Once on board the Half -Mo on, the first thing 
Merriwetlier did was to fasten the fat Celestial 
in the hold, which in an emergency would serve 
in place of a lazaretto. No doubt Falstatf had 
expected immediate decapitation, and when he 
found this was not to be his fate, he breathed 
an audible sigh of relief, and would have em- 
braced the wet knees of his rescuer, had the 
mate been in a humor to permit any such non- 
sense. 

As soon as the troublesome chap had been 
temporarily disposed of, our tired friends found 
a chance to talk over the situation. The one 
thing that gave them the most anxiety lay in 
the fact that several times it had been found 
217 


218 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


necessary to call aloud, and in the broadest 
English at that, which made it all the worse in 
case any of the pirates chanced to be near by. 
The splashing of the sea against the rocks, to- 
gether with the moan of the wind combined to 
make enough noise to have swallowed up the 
sound of a human voice, unless one happened to 
he very close by ; so they did not fear those upon 
the proa, discovered behind the trees soon after 
the junk had dashed into the outermost passage. 

Merriwether laid most stress on the fact that 
this retreat was seldom if ever visited by those 
who scoured the vicinity; he believed it had a 
had name among the natives, as being the home 
of some evil spirit they had reason to dread, and 
nothing could he better suited to their plans than 
that they should for the time being represent 
this same dragon. 

By noon the sun peeped out, and made the 
surroundings look more cheerful. They were 
glad enough to see his smiling face, for the 
clouds hanging low overhead had been produc- 
tive of all manner of gloomy prognostications. 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


219 


As the afternoon began to wane, all of them were 
on deck, reclining as best they could, one in a 
hammock, another upon a coil of rope, which in 
Bob’s eye was simply a luxurious seat, while 
Tressie had a stool, fetched from the cabin for 
this especial purpose. Merriwether was telling 
them more about his life in the village of the 
pirates, and describing the lay of the land in the 
vicinity of the place, so that if anything hap- 
pened to him, and the guidance of the expedition 
fell upon one of the lads, they might have at 
least a fair idea of what was before them. 

Already had the sun passed out of sight be- 
hind the elevations that shut them in on all sides. 
Some eerie bird croaked dismally amid the 
thickets ashore, and Bob took such an intense 
dislike to the thing that more than once he 
threatened to do it an injury; indeed, only the 
fear of bringing trouble down upon their own 
heads prevented him from taking the big gingal 
and putting off in the sampan on a trip of de- 
struction. 

Julian declared he could very easily see how 


220 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


tlie Chino-Malay inhabitants of the pirate vil- 
lage came to look upon this same region as 
haunted territory, for it certainly did possess 
some of the most ghostly attributes in the way 
of weird scenery, twisted trees, gaunt cliffs, hol- 
low sounds, and various other agencies calcu- 
lated to chill the blood in the veins of those nat- 
urally given over to superstition. He thought 
he himself would be happier in a more delightful 
place, and that he could easily dispense with 
these reminders of grim demons, dragons and 
other hobbies peculiar to Chinamen in their na- 
tive state. 

While he lay there in the hammock, answer- 
ing or asking questions, it seemed to Julian that 
several times his eye caught a fugitive glimpse 
of something that just flashed above the rail of 
the junk. First he concluded it was the shim- 
mer of the sun on a little wavelet, for perhaps 
there might be a break in the hill-line, that al- 
lowed a parting peep at the declining god of 
day. A little consideration convinced him that 
this could not be the truth, either, and then in 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 221 

idle curiosity he wondered whether it might not 
be the wings of a darting bird, skimming over 
the water in search of insect life, that had caught 
his eye in the passage. When for the third time 
he caught the same flutter, he began to believe he 
could not have hit upon the true solution even 
with his second guess; so dropping out of the 
hammock he crouched down low enough to be 
under the rail, and then to the surprise and con- 
sternation of Tressie, began to crawl forward. 

Julian made a motion that begged for silence 
on her part, so that she sat still and simply 
watched his mysterious movements, as did the 
other two, though the mate smiled grimly as 
though he could give a shrewd guess concerning 
the nature of the mission that had taken the lad 
upon his hands and knees. He reached the side 
of the junk and peered over. 

Those who were watching eagerly, saw him 
start back, turn his head, and then motion to 
Merriwether to join him. Understanding that 
it must be something of considerable importance, 
Bob also dropped from his coil of rope, and be- 


222 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


gan to wriggle his squatty frame over the deck, 
while the mate crawled on ahead. 

“Peek over, carefully, sir,” whispered Julian, 
when the ex-mate brushed up against his sleeve ; 
and Merriwether hastened to do so, taking care 
not to expose himself any more than could be 
helped. He immediately uttered a snort of dis- 
gust. 

“Why, it’s that miserable skunk of a Chink 
waving something out of that little bull’s eye in 
the hold; consarn his picture, I do believe he’s 
making signals of some sort,” he muttered, in 
wrath. 

“Yes; look over across the water,” whispered 
Julian. The mate quickly announced that he 
had made a discovery, for he blew his breath in 
a peculiar manner not unlike a low whistle/ 

“Our sampan adrift— is that rascal off again 
—no, no, it’s another, and, bless my soul, if I 
don’t see two chaps in the thing. Now they 
make a movement this way, and again hold back 
as if afraid. We are in for more trouble, I fear ; 
but, first of all, I’m on to that yellow hippopota- 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


223 


mus below. Luckily he hasn’t coaxed ’em close 
enough to whisper, and his cake will be dough 
in about sixty seconds from now. Watch me 
jettison his cargo for him, that’s all!” growling 
which, the lank mate shuffled off toward the 
opening that gave entrance to the lower regions 
of the native craft. The others were not in a 
mood to pity Falstaff, since he had brought the 
trouble upon his own head ; indeed, just at that 
moment, when it began to look as though disas- 
ter threatened their plans again, they were in a 
mood to wish the fat pirate at the bottom of the 
sea. 

Once, twice, thrice the fluttering scarf floated 
athwart their vision as they crouched there, 
watching the sampan, and then it came no more. 
They heard no sound of struggle, but understood 
that the Chinaman’s cargo had indeed been duly 
jettisoned after Merriwether’s peculiar style, 
and that the chances were twenty to one Fal- 
staff was just then writhing and squirming 
under the sturdy knee of the tall mate, who was 
burning with a righteous indignation concern- 


224 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


mg the trouble the treacherous rascal had given 
them. 

At least the two in the sampan had not as yet 
taken alarm, though it was easy to see they were 
in a frame of mind to fly at the first sign of 
anything out of the common. By some accident, 
and not design, they had found their way into 
this mysterious region, and Julian had an idea 
they were lost, something in their actions pro- 
claiming as much. 

There the signal flaunted again. Ah ! it must 
be Merriwether who waved now, and they could 
guess that his object was to attract the curious 
couple close to the junk, for some purpose of his 
own, looking to effecting their capture. Our 
boys became more than ever excited, though 
this did not prevent them from handling their 
share of the affair with a steadiness that must 
have done credit to an old campaigner. 

Bob was sent after the dreadful Chinese 
gingal, which could be loaded at the breech, yet 
was of such enormous dimensions that it needed 
a giant to successfully handle it upon the open, 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


225 


though on hoard ship where the weight could he 
rested on some stationary object, a single per- 
son would be capable of discharging the same, if 
he did not mind a sore shoulder from the terrific 
impact of the recoil. 

By degrees Julian managed to make Kwang 
understand what was up, and the old waterman 
took considerable interest in the affair ; perhaps 
he was secretly ashamed of the weakness which 
he had shown when Falstaff gave him the sign 
of the Crooked Frog, forcing him to lend pas- 
sive aid to the escaping pirate; and he desired 
to wipe from the mind of his young and honored 
master any ill feeling toward himself. Be that 
as it may, he expressed himself through various 
gestures as ready and eager to assist in the cap- 
ture of the spies, and began to crawl after the 
lad to the side of the junk. 

The fellows had now arrived at a point some 
twenty yards away from the vessel anchored in 
the cove, and they seemed to imagine that this 
was quite as near as caution dictated, for hold- 
ing their boat against the current they began to 


226 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


call aloud in their own language, demanding to 
know how the Half -Moon, which they evidently 
recognized, came to he in this dreadful place of 
the dragon when she was supposed to have gone 
down out at sea, her crew having reached shore. 

Julian understood a few words of this, and 
could easily guess what the rest must be, so that 
he was soon primed and could tell Kwang what 
to say in return, in order to allay their sus- 
picions. The waterman from old Hongkong 
stood up and harangued the two fellows in the 
sampan with the unstudied grace of a natural 
orator. What he said Bob could not for the life 
of him tell, but he was able to guess its import, 
and watched anxiously to see what effect it had 
on the occupants of the little boat. 

They consulted together, and then called out 
again, whereupon Kwang tried to reassure them, 
giving all sorts of plausible excuses for his pres- 
ence on the junk, and vowing she had drifted 
into the channel between the islands; which 
thing was so very improbable on its face that the 
others could not swallow the story, and had more 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


227 


suspicions than ever that there was something 
uncanny about the Half -Moon. Another chatter 
and they began to ply their paddles vigorously, 
but Julian noticed to his dismay that it was in a 
contrary way to what they should have done had 
they desired to approach the junk ; which seemed 
to prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that their 
fears had overpowered their desire to investi- 
gate the mystery further, and they were about 
to sheer away. 

And yet, singularly enough, the harder they 
plied their paddles, the closer the sampan 
seemed to move toward the anchored junk, as 
though the tide had become entirely too fierce 
for their resistance. ‘ ‘ Great Scott ! It ’s Merri- 
wether pushing from behind,’ ’ whispered the 
excited Bob. ‘ ‘ I declare I saw his head bob up 
just then over the stern, and the coves don’t 
seem to suspect they’ve got a human propeller 
back yonder. Oh, this is rich; see ’em tug! 
Yet they lose, foot by foot. You can bet they 
think they’re in the clutches of Fung Shuy sure. 
Get your gun, Johnny, and give it to ’em if both 


228 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


try to jump into the sea. The mate will take 
care of one, and better a little noise than to have 
the critters get off. What a pusher that fellow 
is, now. Shall we pop away now?” Altogether 
it made quite an exciting situation. 


CHAPTER XIX. 


MAROONED ON THE DRAGON ’s ISLAND. 

The two piratical-looking Chinamen in the 
sampan were showing signs of tremendous ex- 
citement, for there was something very myster- 
ious to them in the way their boat insisted on 
approaching the anchored junk despite their 
most herculean efforts to prevent such a colli- 
sion. Remember that to their minds everything 
connected with this region was tinged with 
magic; thus to some extent their dismay can be 
understood. 

Several times they bent over the side as 
though strongly tempted to throw themselves 
overboard, and trust to luck in avoiding the 
fierce sharks, which, of course, they knew to 
inhabit these waters; but evidently neither had 
the nerve of old fat Falstaff, or else they did not 
229 


230 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


consider the situation quite as desperate as was 
the case with him— at any rate, on each occasion 
they would draw back with a shudder and take 
to tugging at the paddle again. Perhaps they 
even half expected that the junk would prove to 
be a mirage, and compared the soft refrain of 
the enticing Kwang Chow to the songs of the 
mermaids, said to haunt the shores of ancient 
Greece, eager to lure the hardy mariner to his 
doom. 

When Bob announced that Merriwether was 
capable of carrying out his own game to the end, 
he had good reason for such belief ; for he saw 
the big sailor man crawling in over the stern 
of the sampan , his ready knife, with which he 
had done such good work against the shark, 
caught in his teeth. Very ferocious he ap- 
peared, and quite of a character to strike terror 
to the hearts of those wretches who now caught 
sight of him for the first time. 

Perhaps they imagined him to be a monster 
of the deep, the dragon that had long guarded 
this ghostly region; or having recognized the 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


231 


man whom they had for years ill-treated they 
were seized with a panic of fear, believing that 
his hour had indeed arrived, and that he was 
now about to take his long delayed revenge. 
Never mind, they were overcome with fright, one 
way or the other, and where Julian had ex- 
pected to see them put up something of a fight, 
he was surprised as well as relieved to find that 
both of the rascals were groveling in the bottom 
of the rocking boat, bowing their heads in true 
Chinese style, and virtually “kotowing” as to 
their prince. 

Mate Merriwether was not a bloodthirsty man 
by nature, though if ever any one had reason to 
seek revenge surely this prisoner of seven years 
could find an excuse for carrying out such a pro- 
gram. He was, however, content to know that 
the two wandering pirates could not escape to 
give an alarm, and that for the time at least all 
was well. He spoke in their own tongue, giving 
them to understand that immediate death 
awaited them should they attempt such a thing 
as treachery; by degrees the fellows mustered 


232 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


up enough courage to twist their heads and look 
upward, and the sight of that fearful gingal 
covering them from the rail of the junk con- 
vinced them that the mate spoke the actual truth 
when he thus promised total annihilation. They 
climbed gingerly aboard, finding it hard to be- 
lieve it was not a dream brought about by the 
fumes of opium; for to them the Half -Moon 
must ever be an enchanted ship, that by rights 
ought to be deep down beneath the waves. 

Merriwether was pleased with the success at- 
tending his little game, and as he shook himself 
like a great dog he laughingly declared it to be 
only a question of time ere they had the whole 
piratical community quartered on board, a dire 
possibility that threw Kwang Chow into spasms 
of misery, for he was serving just then as quar- 
ter-master, and knew the small allowance of 
rations on hand. 

The new prisoners were escorted below, with 
Julian and his blunderbuss serving as guard ; 
but they gave no indication of a desire to make 
trouble, at least not as yet ; though knowing the 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


233 


breed as lie did, Merriwether was not the one 
to trust them to any great length. In the hold 
they found the portly Falstaff sitting in a dazed 
state upon his haunches, and wrapped up in his 
queue ; for not having any other means of tying 
the fellow after he had thrown him violently 
down, the ingenious mate had utilized the long 
braid after a fashion, showing that a Chinaman 
always carries with him the means of his own 
undoing. 

It was good policy to secure the small open- 
ing, which had come near proving their ruin; 
for although Falstaff could not begin to find an 
exit there, his new mates were of a different 
model, and might happen to squeeze through. 
At any rate, Merriwether did not care to take 
chances. 

Julian saw the coming of night with a feeling 
of exultation that he was now to have his oppor- 
tunity to make that long dreamed-of movement 
looking toward the rescue of his beloved par- 
ent. He fortified himself with the remembrance 
of many bold exploits in the line of history, and, 


234 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


moved by the gravity of the occasion, sent up a 
petition to the Great Captain on High, that suc- 
cess might attend his holy efforts, so that those 
waiting in hope and fear across the blue sea 
might not be bitterly disappointed. Bob joined 
him at the side of the junk, where he had been 
studying the conditions of the weather, and 
casting longing glances toward that quarter 
where, as he knew from the directions of the 
mate, the strange conglomeration of huts and 
thatched shacks constituting the village of the 
Chino-Malay pirates lay. 

“It promises well,” remarked the English 
lad, softly, for he deeply sympathized with his 
friend, even though not able to fully enter into 
the holy spirit that actuated Julian; for his own 
parent was a husky farmer in good health in old 
England, and the family intact, he being the 
only rover. 

“Yes; that young moon will go down after a 
time, and leave the world in darkness. I sup- 
pose that suits the purposes of our good friend, 
Merriwetlier, better than anything else, though 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


235 


it does seem odd that honest men have to carry 
out their deeds without a light. Bob, old fellow, 
you don’t know how nervous I am; why, at 
times, it seems as though I couldn’t keep from 
shouting at the top of my voice, to let off 
steam,” said Julian, with a long breath. 

“Oh, yes, I can understand; but if I was you, 
old chap, I’d defer that till the thing was over, 
and once on the high seas you may howl to your 
heart’s content. Just now mum’s the word, I 
imagine,” observed the other, with a solemnity 
that was rather strange when taken in connec- 
tion with his usual merry character. 

“Don’t be alarmed, for I’d sooner cut my 
hand off than make a blunder now. I was dread- 
fully afraid that we might have to postpone the 
affair until another night, for at sundown the 
wind died out utterly; but I think Heaven is 
about to answer my prayers, for just a bit ago I 
felt a puff of air on my cheek, and the prospect 
is for a nice breeze, such as we need to waft us 
in and out of these twisty channels, and carry us 
off when we’ve got him,” and how the lad’s 


236 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


voice softened to a touch of caressing tender- 
ness when it pronounced that suggestive “him.” 

“Good for you! Why I hadn’t thought of 
that before, and yet I was worrying over those 
chaps, too. Maroon ’em on this island, that’s 
the game. We’ll see what Merriwether says to 
it. I imagine they’ll stay here safe and sound 
till sun-up at least, and we hope to be many 
leagues away by that time. Here comes the 
mate after drying himself off,, and we’ll see 
what he thinks of the matter.” 

When he heard what Bob had suggested^ the 
lanky mate expressed his satisfaction in vehe- 
ment terms, and declared the project did credit 
to Bob ’s ingenuity ; they could anchor the trio of 
troublesome wards on the adjoining island, and 
be pretty sure they would stay there through 
the night. At any rate, even if there was a 
chance of their giving the alarm, it would not be 
so bad as having them along when the junk came 
to, just off the fort that guarded the pirate set- 
tlement. When supper had been eaten the work 
of transporting the three Chinese to the shore 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


237 


was begun. Mate Merriwether took it upon 
himself to explain that the junk would not be 
far away, and that if any one of the men so 
much as gave a peep during the continuance of 
the night the foreigners would return and 
throw them to the sharks, which he assured them 
fairly swarmed around the island. Then they 
were brought up and lowered into the two 
sampans , With Julian in one as the propelling 
power, and the big mate attending to that duty 
in the other. 

It was a singular mission to our young adven- 
turer. The crescent moon in the clear heavens 
gave a small amount of silvery light, but the 
shores lay in somber shadow, with the gaunt, un- 
shapely trees outlined with weird distinctness 
against the sky line. 

That uncanny bird of ill-omen, toward which 
Bob had conceived such a spite during the ear- 
lier stage of their stay in the lagoon, had again 
started to send forth its hideous riotes, and 
Julian thought it the strangest bit of business 
in which he had ever been engaged. 


238 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


He had the fat Chink in his boat, the mate 
preferring to look after the more slippery cus- 
tomers, and Falstaff crouched in the bow, 
watching the shore loom up, as though he fully 
expected that when they landed the execution 
would take place ; for he had an idea they wished 
to avoid a muss on board the junk; nor would 
any assurance on the part of the boy have com- 
forted him ; probably a guilty soul lashed him, 
for he understood that he had broken his parole 
by trying to escape, and in endeavoring to be- 
tray the adventurers to his comrades in the 
sampan , and with such wild spirits so brazen a 
breach of faith could only be rewarded in one 
way. 

At length they pushed the boats up on the 
pebbly strand, and the cargoes were unloaded, 
though it was with manifest uneasiness that 
Falstaff stepped upon the island that had so bad 
a reputation among his people. He even begged 
the mate to take him back to the Half Moon, 
preferring captivity there to freedom here ; but 
Merriwether had been warned by Kwang con- 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


239 


cerning the possible short rations, and if there 
had been no other reason for getting rid of such 
a big eater as Falstaff this would have sufficed. 
The others made no comment, perhaps they 
were thankful in their hearts that they were to 
be spared, for it was not according to the rules 
governing their clan to thus allow an enemy to 
draw breath when once he had fallen into one’s 
hands. 

‘ ‘ Back to the ship, lad, ’ ’ said the mate, push- 
ing his craft away from the spot where the black 
water lapped the sand; and not knowing what 
desperate notion might strike these fear-crazed 
souls left on the strip of land which they be- 
lieved to he the spot where dragons and the 
dreaded Fung Shuy held high carnival, Julian 
hastened to follow suit. Thus they left the 
three marooned Celestials, in the hope that they 
would crouch low during the whole night, since 
the evil spirits might not find them, if they 
failed to move hand or foot. 

Bob waited at the side of the vessel to re- 
ceive them, for he was uneasy during their ab- 


240 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


sence ; and Tressie appeared, armed with one of 
the wonderful yataghans with which her father 
had decorated his cabin wall, determined to do 
her part should trouble of any sort come upon 
them during the absence of Julian and Mate 
Merriwether. 

Kwang Chow expressed his pleasure at the 
absence of his countrymen, for his thoughts 
were upon the conditions of the ‘ ‘ grub ’ ’ market, 
and he did not approve of feeding the enemy 
at the expense of their scanty larder. 

An hour passed. Nothing was heard from the 
shore, though this could not be taken as a posi- 
tive sign that the three chaps had fallen flat on 
their faces, and dared not raise their eyes, for 
fear of inviting an attack from the dragons. 
They were tricky customers, one and all, and 
perhaps able to see a loophole by means of 
which they would be able to reach those who 
manned that lingering proa , which would be a 
bad thing for our friends, as well as the plan of 
campaign laid out for this night’s entertain- 
ment. 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


241 


“Time, said the mate, at length, in a low 
voice, which every one heard, for they were 
clustered around his station, awaiting just such 
a signal. Instantly each started to carry out 
that share of the work given over to his par- 
ticular care; Boh and Julian laid hold of the 
cable, and began to tug at the anchor, while 
Merriwether, assisted by Kwang, hoisted one 
of the matting sails by means of which the junk 
was propelled before the breeze. All this with 
the least possible noise, and when the queer boat 
began to actually move through the water, Jul- 
ian’s fear had utterly vanished, to give way to 
an exultant happiness that his hour had come at 
last, after much waiting and many petitions. 

And so the Half-Moon started upon the only 
honest cruise of her long and eventful career, 
manned by brave hearts, and blessed by the 
prayers of the loved ones far beyond the sea, 
whose thoughts were ever with the lad Julian 
in his holy mission. 


CHAPTER XX 


INVASION OF THE VIPERS ’ NEST 

Merriwether took the tiller and the others 
stood ready to obey his orders with the least pos- 
sible delay and as little noise as lay in their 
power. 

Tressie clung to the side of her friend and 
protector, and from time to time Julian would 
whisper words of good cheer; for he felt that 
the girl was less fitted to stand the strain under 
which they were all laboring than any of the 
others on board the junk. 

They did not leave the tortuous channel by the 
same route they had taken on entering; and 
Julian judged from this that they would bring 
up close to the village when finally free from 
the confines of the archipelago. Indeed, the 

242 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


243 


mate had fully explained this fact, so that all 
were on the alert to discover the first signs of 
the lookout tower where the piratical horde 
watched for the coming of their expected prey, 
and Heaven help the ship that was becalmed in 
the treacherous neighborhood of those same en- 
chanted islands, for she would never he heard 
of again. 

“ Steady/ ’ said Merriwether, bending for- 
ward as if the better to discern certain land- 
marks which were his guidance. The hoys pre- 
pared to lower the sail at a word. They had, 
earlier in* the evening, at the suggestion of the 
crafty mate, made some changes in their ap- 
parel, and so far as the assortment of things 
left on hoard the junk allowed, had transformed 
themselves into Chinamen ; in which little busi- 
ness the crafty Kwang rendered much assist- 
ance. This was done so that under ordinary 
conditions they might pass for members of the 
buccaneer trust, though, of course, a close in- 
spection might reveal discrepancies in their 


244 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


looks that would betray their lack of China 
blood. 

Bob looked on it as a picnic, and was forever 
executing what he called a “ skirt-dance ” upon 
the dark deck, which lost none of its vigor be- 
cause carried out in utter silence ; but now even 
this hilarious individual became subdued, for 
he had the power of crushing his exuberant 
spirits to the earth when such radical treatment 
was demanded, but with the reservation that he 
would make up for lost time when the coast was 
clear. 

“See yonder/ ’ whispered the mate, point- 
ing his hand ; and more through intuition than 
because they followed his movement the others 
looking discovered what he thus called their at- 
tention to. A light shone upon a hilltop, where, 
as they understood, the lookout of the pirates 
was stationed; no longer did it appear like a 
star, for they had now reached a point within 
half a mile of the place, and it was easy to make 
out that this glow came from a fire, maintained 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


245 


perpetually as a means of signalling to boats 
far out at sea. The village lay below. 

So well had the mate described the situation 
that they were able to mentally picture the ex- 
act position of the settlement, and could even 
fancy what it looked like. 

The mate gave orders for lowering the sail, 
and this was done without a creak or a flutter 
attending the dropping of the mat ; for long be- 
fore the mast had been well greased, so that 
everything worked with silent precision. Nature 
stood at their back, for the breeze was in such 
a quarter that it would propel them slowly yet 
surely along the shore in the direction of the 
spot whence it was their desire to land; and at 
the same time when the occasion demanded a 
hasty flitting, this same wind would continue to 
befriend them by wafting them straight along, 
heading for the open sea. 

Small things of this sort unite to influence one, 
one way or the other; and in this case the boys 
found such satisfaction in the thought that cir- 
cumstances were in their favor, that they be- 


246 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


came very confident of success, and shut their 
teeth in a suggestive way. The word “fail” is 
not generally found in the vocabulary of such 
hoys, who, baffled in one quarter, turn to another 
for a means toward success. Crouching there, 
almost holding their breath with eagerness and 
anxiety, the young people watched the dark 
panorama of that shore unfold before them, 
and waited for Merriwether to give the signal 
to “let go” the anchor, when they had drifted 
well past the village. 

Now they could see a few dim lights here and 
there, which the mate whispered were expiring 
fires over which the supper had evidently been 
cooked ; and sounds came to their ears, the bark- 
ing of dogs predominating, for of course a 
goodly number of curs were maintained in the 
village, perhaps to he used as dainties in the 
food line when a feast was in order or famine 
threatened. 

Julian did not fancy these creatures a bit, and 
wondered if they might not be the undoing of 
the whole expedition; theif instinct would lead 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


217 


them to understand what deception was lying 
under the assumed Chinese garments, and if 
they could not move without a pack of these 
mangy creatures barking and snarling at their 
heels the cat would soon he out of the bag. 
Still, he felt that Merri wether, who seemed to 
provide against everything, would not neglect 
to lay up some plan looking to the outwitting of 
these same hoodoos. 

There lay the scene of his father’s long cap- 
tivity. On and around this hay had he labored 
under the cruel lash these seven years, that must 
have seemed like an eternity to the parent and 
husband, sustained only by the hope, ever cher- 
ished, that some day Heaven meant to give him 
liberty again, when he could speed across the 
seas to those dearly beloved in the family group, 
to whom he must have long seemed as one dead. 
In that moment Julian was repaid many times 
over, for all that he had suffered and done since 
embarking upon what, to many, must have ap- 
peared a most Quixotic errand ; but if gratifica- 
tion came thus early, what would his feelings 


248 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


be should a kindly fortune allow him to hear 
away to safety that parent who had never en- 
tirely lost- his faith in the all-wise Providence 
that rules everything on earth? 

Now that they no longer carried a sail to 
catch the wind, their progress was slow, though 
enough of the junk’s high stern was out of 
water to serve as a propelling force. 

Merriwether stood by the rudder, and though 
his sweeps managed to send the boat just about 
where he most wanted her to go, there was 
something ghostly about the manner of their 
crossing the bay, something that must have 
stirred the curiosity and fears of any casual 
observers; but the darkness of the night en- 
veloped them, and keen though the eyes on the 
look-out might be, they could not pierce that 
blanket. 

Perhaps half an hour elapsed since they first 
came out from the crooked channel, but it 
seemed longer than that to the anxious lads, 
whose nerves were wrought up to a high pitch 
by the suspense. They saw that while the mate 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


249 


had kept off shore for a time, so as to avoid any 
accidental contact with anchored boats, he 
now began to edge in, little by little, making 
for the particular spot which in his mind was 
peculiarly adapted for their purpose, and where 
the resurrected Half-Moon might lie snugly 
while they were ashore upon their errand of 
mercy. 

Merriwether was in dead earnest concerning 
the rescue, for his heart had long gone out to 
Captain Roxbury as his dearest friend on earth, 
and he stood ready to give up life itself, if need 
be, in the effort to bring freedom to that noble 
Christian man. On numerous occasions he had 
been sorely tempted to take his own life, such 
had been the dark despair overwhelming his 
soul, but the influence of his fellow exile had 
held his hasty arm, and he felt that he owed that 
existence again and again to the dauntless skip- 
per, whose spirit these fiends could never wholly 
crush. 

Now they could make out some of the charac- 
teristics of the land they were gradually ap- 


250 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


proaching, and every moment Julian expected 
to hear the mate’s whispered order to cast an- 
chor. 

Preparations had been made looking to ac- 
complishing even this usually noisy task in si- 
lence, for if it could he avoided the mate did not 
wish to attract any attention to the fact of their 
arrival, fearing lest some meddlesome individ- 
ual, of whom there are always a number about 
every village, might take it upon himself to sally 
forth in a boat, with the idea of learning all 
about the new arrival, so that in lieu of a morn- 
ing paper fresh from the press, he could person- 
ally circulate the news through the community. 
Merriwether meant to hold a monopoly of that 
news himself, and release it to the public only 
after he and his friends had sailed hence. 

The two sailor lads bent over the anchor which 
simply hung from the bow of the junk, having 
been catted and not stowed aboard; and when 
the sound of a slight whistle, that might easily 
have baen mistaken for the call of a water fowl, 
reached their ears, they immediately began to 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


251 


lower away, bracing themselves in order that 
they might not he pulled overboard with it. 

So the mud-hook was once more wedded to the 
bottom of the bay, where it had doubtless found 
lodgment on many a former occasion when the 
Iialf-Moon came back from some successful 
cruise after loot. It had been the duty of Kwang 
Chow to watch the sampan trailing Behind, and 
prevent any bumping between the boats, such 
as might prove harmful to the lighter vessel, 
and at the same time develop sounds of a nature 
to arouse curiosity ashore. 

When the boat had swung around to her cable, 
Merriwether saw that all was in readiness for 
instantaneous flight, should circumstances com- 
pel them to arrive under hot pressure, for at 
such times seconds count for much, and an ounce 
of prevention is worth a pound of cure. There 
was no need of hurry, for it would serve their 
purpose better if the hour that witnessed their 
entry into the settlement chanced to be after 
midnight, when the inhabitants were more apt 
to be sound asleep; and besides, the mate was 


252 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


not a man to neglect the slightest detail because 
of his eagerness to get down to work. 

Again Kwang was to he left in charge though 
Tressie was made the absolute captain, it being 
thought best to invest her with this authority, 
as the man with the queue could hardly he de- 
pended upon in an acute crisis. A code of sig- 
nals was arranged, whereby those on shore 
could communicate with the junk in case of 
necessity; and thus fortified the three adven- 
turers prepared to take to the small boat. 

All were armed as best the occasion allowed, 
though it was to be hoped no occasion would 
arise calling for a display of weapons, since their 
number was so distressingly small as to make 
successful resistance a measure of uncertainty. 
Rather they hoped to win out through strategy, 
aided by the fact that their presence in the 
neighborhood was, of course, utterly unknown to 
the buccaneers. 

Julian had succeeded in corraling his fears 
and placing them under guard, lest they betray 
him at a critical time when most of all he needed 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


253 


a clear head and steady nerves. He aroused the 
admiration and respect of the mate by his stead- 
iness, and Merriwether was positive that the ex- 
cellent qualities which he had learned to love in 
the Captain, had fallen by inheritance to the son. 

Gently they urged the sampan toward the dim 
shore close by, the ex-prisoner serving as pilot, 
for he knew to a dot just where to land, and 
how their chances would be best served by a 
discriminate use of the paddle. When the bow 
gently came in contact with the land, Julian 
again felt a sense of exaltation, for well he knew 
the fateful ht>ur was at hand. 


CHAPTER XXL 


FIRE-SIGNALS IN' THE AIR 

There was no hurried jumping ashore, for one 
and all were impressed with the exceeding grav- 
ity of their business, and even the versatile and 
fun-loving Bob had sobered down to a becoming 
point. 

Julian, being in the bow, was the first to step 
ashore, and no sooner had he done so than seiz- 
ing upon the boat he drew her prow along the 
sand. 

Even the grating sound thus produced caused 
more or less anxiety. But Merriwether had 
chosen his landing with considerable wisdom, 
for a fringe of bushes protected them on either 
side, while it seemed a good place from which 
to reach the waiting junk in a hurry. They had 
landed with but one object in view, and every- 
254 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


255 


thing else must give way to that particular pur- 
pose. Speech was tabooed, save it he carried on 
in whispers, for such was the condition of affairs 
that the sound of English striking on native 
ears would be as a match to gunpowder. 

The mate had his plans arranged down to a 
fine point, and unless some unexpected hitch 
occurred they were expected to work like ma- 
chinery. Like the cautious man that he had ever 
shown himself to he, he took a good look around 
before plunging into the labyrinth of hushes 
that lay between their landing place and the out- 
skirts of the village squatting on the side of the 
rise. A sailor falls into such a habit of glancing 
aloft the very instant he comes on deck, to see 
what the weather promises, and how the ship is 
carrying her canvas, that no matter where he 
may find himself the rule maintains its grip 
upon him. Sometimes the habit brings its own 
reward, as in the present instance ; for otherwise 
they might have remained in ignorance of cer- 
tain important facts that had a startling hearing 
on their business ashore. 


256 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


Julian heard liis tall comrade utter a low ex- 
clamation, and noted that his frame stiffened 
out as though something had thrust itself upon 
his attention. He supposed on the instant that 
Mate Merriwether had discovered a prying na- 
tive near by, whose inquisitive eyes had noted 
the landing of this strange expedition; and it 
puzzled the lad how they were to prevent the 
spy from raising his voice and giving the alarm. 
Then, as he began to pay more attention to the 
attitude of his friend, he saw the sailor was 
looking upward, first toward the region where 
the other islands undoubtedly lay, sheltered in 
the pitch-black gloom, and then twisting his 
neck to throw a glance up at the peak over-top- 
ping the particular one on which the pirates had 
their stronghold. 

It dawned upon Julian that something singu- 
lar connected with the light on the summit, used 
as he understood by the natives as a signal, 
must have captured the mate ’s attention. ‘ ‘ What 
is it?” he whispered, eagerly, for no matter 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


257 


what it might turn out to be it surely interested 
him, with so much at stake. 

“That blasted fat Chink is bound to be the 
death of me yet,” muttered the mate, as if to 
himself, and Julian marveled greatly, for he 
could not believe it within the range of possibil- 
ities that old Falstaff, after his recent adventure 
with the shark, would venture upon the tremen- 
dous task of swimming from the haunted island 
to some point where he could come into touch 
with any of his fellows. 

Some intuition caused Julian to raise his eyes, 
and suddenly he saw something up yonder 
against the sky that appeared very like a star, 
only it moved this way and that, in eccentric 
curves, making all manner of queer lines 
athwart the horizon. 

Once he saw these zigzag flashes, what seemed 
to be the truth flashed upon Julian’s mind like 
an inspiration, and he felt horrified at the cal- 
amity that appeared to threaten their under- 
taking. He could mentally join with Mate Mer- 
riwether in denouncing the false policy of mercy 


258 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


when taken in connection with such cutthroats 
as the three men left in quarantine on the island 
of the dragon, for, beyond a question instead of 
waiting for the dawn to relieve them of their 
fears, those worthies, deterred from plunging 
into the sea, had actually climbed to the summit 
of a hill, and being possessed of certain secrets 
whereby a blaze might be created, they had 
made a fire, and then with a blazing torch at- 
tempted to open communication with the 
vidette whose duty kept him beside the signal 
fire on the lookout of Hawks’ Nest. The situa- 
tion was acute, and enough to make any one 
groan because of their impotence to alter the 
conditions; since those who did the signaling 
were far beyond reach, and nothing could pre- 
vent them from telling the whole story, provided 
communication was once opened. 

Ah, that was where their one hope lay. Sel- 
dom did anything reward the lookout-man’s 
vigil, months often passing without a sign from 
the broad sea that stretched away to north, east 
and south. Thus the man on duty was apt to 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


259 


grow careless, and even sleep at his post; so 
long as the fire did not die ont he could not be 
blamed. What if he were enjoying a nice quiet 
nap just now, the fellows over yonder on the 
dragon island might continue to wave their 
torch in all manner of suggestive curves until 
their arms dropped to their sides, but it would 
not transfer the news they sought to impart. 

■“ There’s some hope they won’t be able to 
make connections , 9 9 grunted the disgusted mate, 
who was mentally belaboring himself because 
he had allowed his better nature to prevail when 
disposing of the prisoners, knowing as he did 
what many a man would do with such treach- 
erous rascals, with so much at stake ; ‘ ‘ and even 
if they do it’ll take some time for those critters 
to tell all they know, so we’ve got a fighting 
chance at the worst. One thing sure, we mustn’t 
waste any more time here. Forward’s the 
word, boys.” 

The young fellows were only too anxious to 
proceed, so that the mate could not have pleased 
them more than when he declared his intention 


260 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


of pushing straight on to the village. The last 
glimpse Julian had of the signal-makers, the 
torch was keeping up its mystic movements 
through the air. 

Their course kept them close by the water for 
a brief time. It was evident that Merriwether 
was treading a familiar route. That they were 
speedily approaching the settlement, our boys 
knew from various reasons, chief among which 
were the sounds that came distinctly to their 
ears, such as the barking of curs. This an- 
noyed Julian more and more, for he became 
possessed of the idea that if their plans were 
brought to naught it would be through some 
such miserable agency as these dogs scenting 
strangers abroad, and carrying on in such a 
manner as to arouse the whole village. How 
he wished a famine had struck the place recent- 
ly, so that every single cur must have been 
tossed into the pot to ward off starvation. He 
remembered how geese had once saved ancient 
Rome, and it was just possible that a mangy 
cur might on this occasion be their undoing. 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


261 


He believed he would ever afterward hate the 
sight of a dog as something not in sympathy 
with his nature; and yet up to now he had al- 
ways loved the canine race, having possessed 
many a pet of that character. However, he 
plucked up a little courage when he noted that 
Merriwether did not appear worried over the 
dog question, and it dawned on Julian’s mind 
that the mate had become quite well acquainted 
with the canine population during his long stay, 
so that he not only knew how to domineer over 
the brutes, but they had good cause to fear his 
kick and also the sound of his voice, whether 
raised in English or in the language of their 
owners. 

Closer still they drew to the village, until it 
was possible to catch a glimpse through the 
scrub of the dwindling fires which they had 
noticed from the bay; while dim, uncertain 
mushroom-like structures scattered here and 
there marked the congregation of huts and 
shacks of which the village was fashioned. 
They could hear boats rubbing together at the 


262 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


landing, and Julian, as he cast one searching 
glance over the open space that now loomed up 
to their left, was sure he could detect a number 
of larger craft at anchor just oft the shore ; but 
evidently no port regulations insisted upon each 
and every anchored craft showing a riding-light, 
for they were wrapped in impenetrable dark- 
ness, though doubtless tenanted by those who 
sailed them over the sea in search of plunder. 
Now they ascended the hill for a bit ; but there 
was always a trail, and it was not difficult to 
follow in the footsteps of their guide. 

It had been arranged that in case anything 
turned up to raise an alarm, the most desperate 
tactics possible must be employed, and they had 
come from the junk fully supplied with material 
to create the wildest excitement amid the collec- 
tion of inflammable structures. Briefly Julian 
and Bob were chartered as members of the fire 
department, only instead of the salvage corps 
their present mission was in an entirely oppo- 
site direction, for they were sworn to destroy, 
to set fire to each and every shack possible, and 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


263 


create a reign of terror in tlie community, tlius 
suddenly aroused from sound sleep to find their 
village fire-swept, their dwellings flashing forth 
into billows of flame every minute. All this to 
cover the movements of the mate, who would 
push directly for the prison of his comrade, and 
carry out his part of the program there. 

He had explained how the pearl-diver, finding 
a man-eating shark hovering* above him in the 
clear water, waiting for him to rise, immediately 
stirs up the sand with the double-pointed stick 
he always carries on his excursions to the oyster 
banks; and taking advantage of the thickened 
condition of the water he is able to gain his 
boat in safety; and Merriwether was in sym- 
pathy with such clever tactics looking to the 
confusion of a cruel foe. 

In his native town perhaps Julian had de- 
lighted to “run with the machine,” whenever 
there was a blaze; but never had he dreamed 
that he would live to play the part of wholesale 
incendiary, and feel a wild desire to cremate 
the better part of an entire village ; yet such a 


264 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


vocation may be thrust upon the mildest-man- 
nered man who ever went to sea, such are the 
vagaries of eccentric fate. 

They had now arrived at the parting of the 
ways, for it was deemed essential that they sep- 
arate, as Mate Merriwether evidently did not 
believe in the principle of keeping all his eggs in 
one basket; moreover, each of them had a par- 
ticular duty to perform, and much depended on 
how it was done. Julian remained where he 
was, and prepared for business, while Bob on 
his part was to accompany the big sailor a little 
further along the trail, when he too must drop 
out, and attend to his part of the program. 


CHAPTER XXII. 

THE PEAL OF THE CRACKED BELL. 

When he found himself alone upon the border 
of that mysterious village of the Chino-Malay 
pirates, and which he had never set eyes upon 
save in this goblin darkness, Julian naturally 
experienced a feeling of fear, and indeed the 
situation was enough to give a veteran cam- 
paigner something in the line of a nervous chill. 
But he braced himself immediately, and set his 
teeth firmly together, resolved to carry out his 
part of the business with a fidelity that would 
deserve the best of success. 

The articles he had in his hands were of a 
character to bring suspicion on him if caught 
loitering near any factory or mill in a civilized 
community, where a strike happened to be in 
progress, for it would not require much penetra- 
265 


266 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


tion to read their undoubted use as producers of 
conflagrations. They consisted for the most 
part of small bundles of rags that had been 
saturated with inflammable oil, so that it only 
required the scratching of a match to supply a 
blazing meteor which nothing could extinguish. 
Matches they had found in plenty aboard the 
junk, and it was evident the pirates were quite 
accustomed to many such pleasant accessories 
of civilized life, thanks to the hauls they from 
time to time had made on tramp ships that fell 
into their clutches. 

From where he crouched Julian had a clear 
view of the harbor, together with the distant 
islands that lay a dense black mass against the 
lighter background of sea, and having the mat- 
ter of those miserable signals still upon his 
mind it was only natural that he should give 
over studying the lay of the shacks in the settle- 
ment, for a brief period, and turn his attention 
that way. Well, the parties up yonder were 
still keeping at it, and the eccentric circles and 
side movements appeared more vigorous than 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


267 


ever. Julian noticed that it was not the same 
thing repeated over and over, as before, just as 
a telegraph operator calls a fellow on the line 
by his particular signal; but there was a regu- 
larity in the swing of the torch, just as though 
some message was being flashed across space; 
and he actually believed the denizens of the 
dragon island had succeeded in attracting the 
notice of the man who guarded the lookout on 
the apex of Hawks’ Nest. 

That meant discovery; it stood for the awak- 
ening of the village, for a swarming out from 
hut and shack of the hundreds of wild bucca- 
neers who made this miserable den their abiding 
place, each and every one of them armed, and 
eager to shed blood. It meant that before the 
object of their sacred mission could be accom- 
plished the trio of adventurers would have to 
resort to their most desperate tactics, and fire 
the village. 

As this conviction swept over him, Julian was 
surprised to find how his muscles became rigid, 
as though the very nature of the crisis forced 


268 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


him to rise above the ordinary fears that would 
beset a lad, and show the spirit of a young hero ; 
he no longer dreaded the inevitable conflict, 
but seemed to actually yearn for it, knowing 
that the sooner it came about the quicker the 
end would reach him. And that end! How it 
thrilled him to think of the glorious possibilities 
involved, and the blessed opportunity of throw- 
ing his longing arms around the neck of the one 
so dearly loved, so sadly mourned. 

Minutes had passed since Merriwether and 
Bob had left him there, but they seemed hours, 
such was the suspense under which he labored. 
How long would it take for the mate to accom- 
plish his work! He had said something about 
the Captain being put in irons during the night, 
and had even made preparations for getting rid 
of such undesirable jewelry with all possible 
speed ; and yet it might occupy much time in the 
carrying out, while those rogues over the way 
were flashing their secrets across the bay, word 
by word, placing it in the power of the lookout 
to give the alarm. 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


269 


Perhaps it would have been wise on their part 
had they gone immediately to the crest of the 
hill, and pounced upon the guardian of the sig- 
nal light, thus putting it out of his power to do 
mischief ; hut now it was too late, and they must 
accept what came philosophically. No doubt it 
was an astonishing story which that whirling 
torch flashed over the sea, and must have made 
the fellow in the eyrie above rub his eyes and 
wonder whether he might not be dreaming after 
an opium smoke ; and in this state of uncertainty 
lay the hope of delay, for he knew the penalty 
of crying “wolf” when there was no wolf, and 
would be slow to commit himself, with not a 
thing to show for his excuse. 

How agonizing it was to count the pulse-heats 
that marked the rapid thumping of his heart, 
while his ears were strained in the expectation 
of hearing some horrid din suddenly break out, 
that must start him on his dreadful mission of 
destruction. He knew that Bob' was enduring 
the same sensations, further up the hill, and that 
somewhere amid the wonderful collection of 


270 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


hovels, Mate Merriwether had settled down to 
his task of freeing the captive, if so be they 
had suffered the Captain to live after the escape 
of his companion. Now Julian bent his eyes 
upon the dim structures near by, figuring how 
he could best create dire destruction in the 
briefest possible space of time. Thus he 
marked one dwelling that seemed to offer ex- 
ceptional opportunities to an enterprising ap- 
prentice in the line of fire-making, and then 
transferred his regards to another, and a third; 
for while the darkness had not lessened appre- 
ciably, his eyes became accustomed to it, and he 
could really see much better than a short time 
before. 

How he longed to hear the signal from the 
mate telling them that he had succeeded in re- 
leasing his companion in exile, and that they 
were even then on the way down the hill, bound 
for the meeting place. This signal was to be 
that same weird cry of the night-bird which had 
annoyed Bob while they lay off the dragon is- 
land, for, of course, there would be nothing sin- 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


271 


gular about this to attract the attention and 
arouse the suspicions of any sleeper who might 
at that moment chance to awaken. 

The signal came not; though he felt sure 
Merriwether must have had ample time to have 
found the Captain, and freed him. Could any- 
thing have gone wrong! Was the prisoner 
now kept in another stockade, so that the mate 
could not find him! Worse still, had he suc- 
cumbed to his cruel task-masters ’ indignities 
after being deprived of the friendly consolation 
of daily intercourse with his fellow in misfor- 
tune! 

Julian could in a measure understand how 
a spirit that has long been buoyed up by a 
species of exaltation, might suddenly give way, 
and with it would go the life it had so long sus- 
tained. He shuddered and tried to hope on, 
praying deep down in his heart, though not a 
sound escaped his compressed lips. It was a 
cruel experience, and one that did more to make 
him a man than everything else that he had ever 


272 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


gone through with, for after all it is suffering 
that ages men and women. 

He no longer pitied the sleepers in those 
shacks. A fierceness had come over his spirit, 
and he could with grim pleasure wipe the whole 
accursed vipers ’ nest out of existence. What 
reason had it for survival; this hotbed of in- 
famy, fit subject for the torch! 

He held in his hand the first package of com- 
bustibles, and the match with which to start the 
flame was ready for its work. Had the big mate 
also noticed the change in the signals across the 
way, and understanding what it meant even 
better than himself, started to rush things so 
they might get away before the mischief oc- 
curred! 

Something was fluttering from a pole near 
by, and Julian had long since made it out to be 
a triangular flag. The mate had told them these 
fellows claimed some sort of relationship with 
the fierce fighters of the mountain districts in 
Southern China, who had given the French their 
fill of fighting whenever hostilities broke out, 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


273 


and known under the general name of the Black 
Flags, have been head and shoulders in every 
insurrection with which the Yellow Empire has 
been afflicted for a century and more. Thus he 
knew that while he could not distinguish the 
color of this floating flag, it was the dreaded ban- 
ner of these Tonquin fighters, who wear no 
queue, have a hunch of coarse black hair at the 
back of their head, are tall and broad-shoul- 
dered, and sport a head covering of rice straw 
thatch. Of course, various clans were repre- 
sented in the mongrel collection on this island, 
but they chose to sail under the banner that in- 
spired fear and respect. 

The prowling dogs had evidently begun to 
smell a rat by this time, for they were raging 
about the place in squads, with noses to the 
ground, trying to locate the scent that was borne 
to their keen nostrils, and which warned the 
beasts of hovering danger. Once they came at 
him Julian knew the game would be up, for, 
unlike the mate, he had no volley of volapuk to 
hurl at their heads, so that he must be reduced 


274 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


to the dire necessity of sallying forth on mis- 
chief bent, and find how readily straw and bam- 
boo burned under favorable conditions. 

During the course of his description of the 
settlement, and the various devices which the 
cunning natives had arranged with a view of 
being warned as to approaching danger, such as 
the appearance of a British war vessel off the 
coast, Merriwether had mentioned the fact that 
while there were other means of communicating 
pleasant intelligence, the alarm was always 
sounded upon an old ship’s bell, taken from 
some unlucky prize that had fallen into the 
hands of the pirates at some time in the remote 
past ; though this bell was cracked in a hopeless 
manner, still it could ring out a wild alarm 
under the application of vigorous jerks, and 
once in a long period it had warned the villagers 
in time for them to get all traces of their des- 
perate calling out of sight long before the ar- 
rival of the gunboat, so that while the officers 
might have suspicions, there was no tangible 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


275 


evidence upon which to convict the buccaneers, 
and visit them with condign punishment. 

Now, this same hell, while nosted in the center 
of the village was connected in some manner 
with the lofty outlook above. Perhaps a long 
rope served as the binding link. Be that as it 
may, whenever the fellow on guard made good 
and sure that the occasion warranted such meas- 
ures, he had it in his power to inaugurate a 
reign of excitement, if not terror, by pulling this 
same rope. The mate had said something about 
hunting it up first of all and divorcing the hell 
from the lookout by means of his knife, which 
Julian had conceded to be the master stroke of 
a genius. 

And now Julian was astonished, and momen- 
tarily stupefied, when suddenly he heard a start- 
ling “ bing-hang, ’ ’ such as might accompany 
the descent of a cudgel upon a tin pan. The 
fellow above had learned enough to understand 
that it was essential the whole village turn out 
to hunt for the hold trespassers. Having 
started in he evidently believed it his duty to 


276 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


keep the ball rolling, for lie certainly jerked that 
poor old hell in a barbarous way, rattling it this 
side and that with a whang and a hang that 
brought out its long forgotten music. 

At any time there is electricity in the clangor 
of an alarm bell heard at night whether it be- 
token a fire or the coming of a flood from a 
broken dam up the valley, and how doubly 
thrilling must the sound have fallen upon the 
ears of the two lads crouching on the outskirts 
of a lawless community, and waiting for their 
cue to enter among the dwellings and apply the 
torch. Alas, that signal had come with the very 
first mad peal of that old ship’s bell, for nothing 
could now prevent the pirates from flocking 
forth, and instituting a search. The only hope 
lay in paralyzing them at the start, in making 
them believe some great disaster was about to 
overwhelm the place, and while the confusion 
became a panic, perhaps the friends might find 
an opportunity to quietly withdraw, and reach- 
ing their junk, put to sea. 

Julian no longer crouched behind the bush; 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


277 


lie had leaped to his feet, and started directly 
into the village. What if dogs got in his way, 
so much the worse for them, unless he had for- 
gotten how to kick ; and as for the natives whom 
he might meet swarming from their shacks, in 
the gloom they would hardly be able to tell him 
from one of their own breed, at least not until 
the fire began to mount upward, and by that 
time the demoralization would have set in, ren- 
dering them incapable of understanding what 
the true nature of the riotous demonstration 
might be. 

So he came to the shack which he had long 
marked as his first torch and striking a match 
applied the flame to the oiled rag, and then to 
the straw roof of the frail bamboo structure. 


CHAPTER XXIII. 

RESULT OF THE NIGHT ATTACK. 

The way in which that straw thatch flashed up 
in a swarming blaze was something Julian 
would never forget, and if he lived through the 
experience he would see it many a time in 
memory, standing out a flaming torch against 
the sky, and rapidly assuming a pyramid shape 
as the fire ran around the entire shack. Strange 
that Bob should get in his initial work at just 
the same time, for part way up the hill another 
bonfire could be seen, rivaling his own attempt 
in fierceness and spectacular effect. 

The shouts and shrieks of the astonished na- 
tives played a fitting accompaniment to this 
glaring panorama; while they rushed hither 
and yon, impressed with the fact that their 
stronghold had been taken by surprise, and was 

278 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


279 


even then in the toils of the enemy. Many 
things served to imprint this upon their minds. 
Acting upon the suggestion of the mate to shout 
constantly and make all the racket possible, the 
boys gave tongue handsomely, just as though it 
might be a college football game in which their 
sympathies were enlisted as “rooters.” 

. Still further up the hill the gruff voice of the 
big mate burst forth, like the boom of a siren 
fog-horn along the coast, and to Julian it gave 
new hope, for he believed Merriwether would 
not he braying with such exceeding great gusto 
unless he had been successful in his mission, 
which would mean that Captain Roxbury was 
at his side. Indeed, more than once Julian be- 
lieved he could catch the sound of a second 
manly voice, echoing the hurrahs of the mate, 
and it thrilled him to the core to think that it 
was his father who thus took up the slogan. 

All this was a fair start, hut the hoys had been 
told not to weary of well doing, and that one 
good turn deserved another; so Julian, having 
paid his respects to the first shack, selected on 


280 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


account of its desirable qualities, extended bis 
warm regards to another close at band, with 
just about the same positive result. Indeed, it 
appeared as though the village must be in prime 
condition for a burning, with the thatch exceed- 
ingly dry, considering how recently the tropical 
rain had poured down upon the island; and it 
only required the slightest invitation on his 
part to bring about a new conflagration. This 
was quite sufficient to demoralize the suddenly 
awakened men, women and children who flocked 
into the open; but it did not represent the sum 
total of the entertainment arranged for their 
especial benefit by the genius of Merriwether, 
whom they had held a prisoner for so many 
years. 

If he met a pirate-warrior on his way* out of 
the melee there was apt to be trouble with a big 
T, and to guard against being tripped up in the 
last round, Julian, having rid himself of all 
combustibles, now drew a weapon, one of those 
fierce blades which Bob admired so much, and 
the legitimate use of which was little known to 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


281 


him through actual experience, he not having 
served an apprenticeship either as pirate or 
cavalryman. Of course, his actions had not 
gone unobserved all this while; hut probably 
those who chanced to see him so industriously 
engaged in adding to the confusion and spread- 
ing the gospel of fire, believed him to he hut one 
of a host, and had little interest in his message, 
save to get out of his way in great haste. 

When he came to escape from the crowd it 
was a little different, for then he ran up against 
men who were beginning to recover somewhat 
from their sudden fright, brought about by the 
terrible awakening, and whose natural fierceness 
could not allow them to pass a chance to spit a 
foreign devil on their ever hungry blades. So 
Julian found it necessary to make several quick 
changes of base, if he cared to preserve a whole 
skin; and the way in which he did this proved 
that there was considerable of the gymnast about 
his make-up. Few persons but who would show 
more or less agility when it came to declining 
intimate relationship with such cutting tools. 


282 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


He dodged first to tlie right and then back 
again to the left, always keeping a bright look- 
out for the man who was waiting to give a 
vicious slash at him in passing; and while this 
system had thus far kept him. whole, it did not 
seem productive of speedy progress, since he 
failed to reach the border of the village as fast 
as he could have wished. 

In his enthusiasm at extending his operations 
Julian had undoubtedly gone further into the 
camp than wisdom might have dictated, though 
he had perhaps failed to realize this until it 
came time to retreat ; nor was his the only case 
on record where “ vaulting ambition o’erleaps 
itself.” But now Julian reaped the benefit of 
his school days’ training as a star center rush on 
the “gridiron,” for his practice enabled him to 
dive under those who would oppose his forward 
progress, or dodge past with such tricks as a 
football player learns. Only now, instead of a 
leather sphere it was his life that might be 
called the stake. 

Twice he fell down, fortunately without im- 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


283 


paling himself upon the clumsy weapon he held 
before him as a means of intimidation to the 
crowding hosts; on each occasion he sprang to 
his feet fearing lest one of those pirates fasten 
upon his hack in the same style as the Old Man 
of the Sea served Sinbad, when it would be im- 
possible to shake him off. 

Kwang Chow had been given a little share in 
the fun, and right gleefully did the heathen 
Chinee avail himself of the golden opportunity 
to cast his glove into the ring and join the ex- 
hibition. When the flames of several burning 
shacks had begun to cast a glow upon the fleecy 
clouds passing over at the time, there suddenly 
came from the harbor a tremendous explosion, 
such as might be produced by the discharge of 
a modern cannon on board a warship ; and this 
terrible boom carried consternation to the hearts 
of the already demoralized piratical crew, for 
in imagination they could see the finish of their 
settlement, which had defied the argus eyes of 
justice so long. 

It was only poor old Kwang amusing himself 


284 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


with that ferocious gin gal, which he propped 
against the side of the junk before discharging, 
having a certain amount of respect for his shoul- 
der in the matter ; and once his enthusiasm had 
broken loose, he continued to load and discharge 
the big gun with all the ardor of a schoolboy on 
the Fourth of July. It was well, for it did 
much to impress upon the minds of the shouting 
and running villagers the fact that their wicked- 
ness had at last been found out, and retribution 
descended upon them. For the sparks took up 
the game after a fashion of their own, and car- 
ried by the air that came in from the bay, 
dropped in showers upon the wretched shacks to 
leeward, finding there a reception that added 
more fuel to the flames. Taken in all it was a 
scene to make one believe pandemonium had 
broken loose, and the flitting of half-nude, dusky 
bodies hither and thither, lent an air of reality 
to such a supposition. 

Julian was on the lookout for an opening 
through which he might gain the shelter of the 
brush that grew alongside the village, and then 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


285 


dash toward the rendezvous appointed by the 
mate. He might have made it once, only that a 
bunch of screaming women and children blocked 
the way, and he could not find the heart to add 
to their terror by jostling through them, with 
that awful bit of uncovered steel in his hand. 
Really, it would be too bad if he paid dearly for 
his tender feeling. 

Whether intentionally or not, one of the chaps 
got directly in his way, so that it was impossible 
to avoid a collision ; and the youngster, knowing 
what was at stake, threw himself into the breach 
with a shout calculated to inspire respect if not 
fear. He carried the fort by storm; indeed, it 
speedily became evident that the whole affair 
was an accident on the part of the Chino, and 
not from deep design, for he howled unmerci- 
fully with fear as he tumbled backward, the bet- 
ter to avoid contact with the plunging foreign 
devil that was plowing a furrow through the 
pirate encampment. Julian picked himself up 
after the encounter, and continued to head for 
the goal. He was surprised to see that the end 


286 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


of his knife was a little gory, showing that he 
mnst have pricked the fellow during the mix-up, 
though he had no recollection of doing such a 
thing; but at least it gave the same shouter a 
reason for his noise, and he was making the 
most of it. 

Another sharp turn brought Julian within 
reach of the coveted brush, into which he 
plunged with a last shout. Never hare gained 
the shelter of copse or burrow with more satis- 
faction than came to the New England boy when 
he felt the crunch of bushes under his feet, and 
knew that he had a clear field before him. The 
fire still raged and the natives shouted louder 
than ever, dogs and children adding to the con- 
fusion in a manner that quite justified the pre- 
dictions of the organizer of the expedition when 
he laid out his plans. 

Had the others managed to escape from the 
turmoil and confusion, or were they still fight- 
ing their way out of the melee? Julian paused 
after gaining the outskirts of the village, even 
though time was so valuable to him just then; 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


287 


but he did want to know if possible how matters 
were progressing elsewhere ; perhaps he would 
have been tempted to rush back to the assistance 
of the others had he been convinced they were 
in trouble. It was utterly impossible to tell 
this from any particular sounds coming from 
the confusion and tumult all around ; and recog- 
nizing the fact that it meant danger to him to 
lose even seconds just then, he once more started 
on a run for the spot where the boat that had 
brought them ashore had been left. 

At any rate, it proved easier making the re- 
treat than the advance. There was no longer a 
pall of gloom hanging over this end of the 
island, since the shacks of the pirates had fash- 
ioned a fine torch, whereby a wide-awake fellow 
could see what obstacles lay in his path. Julian, 
thankful for small favors, took full advantage of 
this ruddy glow and managed to avoid several 
ugly tumbles over stones or fallen timber, so 
that he felt well repaid for the trouble taken to 
supply the illumination. He kept his wits about 
him, knowing what a serious matter it would be 


288 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


if he went astray at this juncture of the game, 
and made sure the shore lay at his left and 
close by. 

Now as he ran there came over him a peculiar 
sense of being followed ; something he could not 
have explained, yet it had an influence over him, 
so that several times he turned his head as if to 
listen. Yes; there was the plain rush of steps 
just a little way hack, following in his course 
with a grim pertinacity that aroused his fight- 
ing blood. He could easily picture some one of 
the ugly crew of yellow-faced rascals bent on 
getting even for the destruction of the village, 
though he had to sacrifice his own life in order 
to do it. And the fellow had the advantage of 
knowing the ground better than Julian, appar- 
ently, for he certainly kept gaining, until it be- 
came a question with our young friend as to 
whether he ought to turn and give his pursuer 
a warm reception, or sprint a little faster in the 
hope of arriving at the landing, where the 
others could take care of the tracker. 

The conclusion was forced upon him that he 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


289 


had no choice in the matter, as the fellow ad- 
vanced by leaps and hounds, and would be upon 
him inside of half a minute ; so Julian gripped 
his ferocious blade and dodging behind a pal- 
metto tree trunk, crouched to give his shadow 
a warm greeting. He was panting with his re- 
cent exertions, but determined enough to carry 
out his desperate plan which necessity had 
forced him to adopt. 

He could see the advancing runner come 
plunging along, utterly regardless of what lay 
in his path ; he tried to imagine a Malay warrior 
flourishing his crooked kriss as he ran amuck; 
but somehow the picture as seen in the flickering 
light from the burning shacks did not appear to 
fill the hill as he had anticipated. Indeed, there 
was something wonderfully familiar about the 
way the runner flourished his arms above his 
head, like the wings of an old Dutch windmill, 
and suddenly it dawned upon Julian that instead 
of a murderous Chino or Malay, this party was 
his chum, Bob, 


CHAPTER XXIV. 

MERRIWETHER FIRES THE GINGAL. 

The sight of his friend pleased Julian exceed- 
ingly, and he immediately called out to let Bob 
know of his presence behind the palmetto, for 
the English lad gripped a wicked-looking hanger 
in one hand, and a yataghan or some such Arab 
blade in the other, so that it seemed to be invit- 
ing destruction for any one to burst upon his 
startled vision without fair warning. Bob was 
also glad to see the Yankee lad, but surely this 
was not the time or place to compare notes, or 
relate what a success as fire-laddies they had 
proven ; for the pirates must presently discover 
the significant fact that they held undisputed 
sway over the burning village, when their sus- 
picions would be aroused, and a hot chase begin. 
When that interesting event came off our 
290 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


291 


friends hoped to be aboard the Half-Moon and 
gliding away from the hostile vicinity under the 
influence of a favoring breeze. 

The course was almost run, for they could see 
before them the clump of trees marking the 
landing place. 

And now Julian’s heart began to throb wildly 
as his eager eyes sought to make out figures 
ahead. Would they he at the rendezvous, Mate 
Merriwether and that other; or had the care- 
fully laid plan proved vain because of some un- 
expected obstruction ! The faithful lad suffered 
much torture during the last minutes, now hope 
dying out of his heart, and again springing into 
sudden life as he thought he caught a movement 
beyond. 

Bob it was who remembered that they had 
arranged a signal by means of which to com- 
municate in case of being separated, and at this 
juncture he gave the call in a clear voice. 

1 ‘ Here, lads ! ’ ’ came an answering shout, and 
a figure sprang up. 

Then Julian knew all was well, for surely the 


292 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


brave mate would not have retreated without 
accomplishing his errand of mercy. Yes; a 
second figure was now beside him, and Julian, 
conquering the awful weakness that seemed to 
crowd upon his whole frame, staggered forward, 
holding out his arms, and exclaiming: 

“ Father, dear father, is it you? Oh! the joy 
of it all ! ’ ’ and then he was snatched into the 
fierce embrace of a pair of thin arms, while 
bearded lips rained kisses on his face. 

The blessed moment was pay a thousand times 
over for all the pains he had endured in this 
treacherous China Sea ; and gladly would Julian 
have taken upon himself a burden twice as great 
for the joy that came to him now. 

Fortunately, there was with them one who 
kept keenly on the alert, knowing what constant 
peril hovered near. “Come,” said the mate, 
gruffly, not because he was devoid of feeling, but 
on account of the desperate nature of their con- 
dition; “ we ’ll stow all that until a more fitting 
opportunity, mates ; just now it’s out best policy 
to make for the ship hot-footed ; because, unless 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


293 


I’m mistaken, there’s a change of tune up yon- 
der, and I rather think the bullies are tumbling 
to our little game, so that we’ll have ’em snap- 
ping at our heels pretty quick. ’ ’ 

“And I think I hear ’em coming in force 
now !” exclaimed Bob, in not a little excitement, 
beginning to thrust imaginary enemies through 
and through with his twin blades. 

“Here, let up on that business, younker,” 
said Merriwether, when he had just been missed 
by one of those wicked slashes, “but you’re quite 
right about the hunt having set in this way. 
They’re coming, sure enough, quite a heap of 
the reptiles, just as if they guessed where we 
landed. Come, my hearties, it’s time we shook 
the dust of this same old island off our feet. 
To the boat ! ’ ’ 

Fortunately, it had not been disturbed during 
their short absence, so that with willing hands 
to assist it was launched in brief order, after 
which they piled in regardless of ceremony or 
any of those nice points to etiquette such as 


294 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


may distinguish the actions of man-o ’-war 
jackies. 

There was the big mate snatching for a pad- 
dle, and Bob insisting upon taking the other, so 
it left nothing for Julian to do save crouch there 
in the sampan and hold on to the hand of the 
father who had been thus given back to him 
from the very grave. Indeed, it was hard to 
believe that after all it might not prove to be 
only a dream, and he awaken to find himself 
perhaps upon the drifting junk, storm-tossed 
out on the bosom of the sea. 

Nor had the mate’s fears been without foun- 
dation, for they could hear the excited voices 
of a gathering crowd upon the beach so lately 
left behind, and then a flash and a report, show- 
ing that their pursuers were firing out upon the 
water, perhaps more at random than because 
they could see the moving sampan; but there 
was a flutter in the water close by, showing that 
the contents of the gun had missed them only 
by a few yards. 

“Faster,” said Merriwether, and Bob had to 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


295 


make good use of his muscles in urging the boat 
along, so as to keep up his end of the log. 
Julian watched ahead, looking for the welcome 
sight of the anchored junk, and when he finally 
sighted its outlines in the gloom he found that 
the wonderful intuition of Merriwether was 
taking them straight at the mark. 

The mate gave a shout, which was to he the 
signal for Kwang Chow to pull up the anchor, 
so that not a second more than necessary might 
be wasted in getting under way after the quar- 
tette had climbed aboard; and that the China- 
man understood what his duty in the premises 
was they had immediate assurance in the 
sounds that came over the water ; there was also 
the soft voice of the girl, showing that Tressie, 
daughter of a sailor, could lend a helping hand 
in dragging an anchor from the sandy bottom 
of the hay, when haste was worth a fortune in 
influencing their escape. 

How Julian's heart warmed toward the gen- 
tle little maid, now that he had been blessed 
with the wonderful return of his long-missing 


296 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


parent; for he could not forget that she had 
only lately been bereaved of a father who was 
always tender to his child, no matter how harsh 
to the crew. He was more than ever resolved 
that if she could not find this relative ‘again, she 
should never lack for a home so long as he had 
one. Later on he would take infinite pleasure 
in telling the Captain all about Tressie, and he 
had no fears on this score. 

Now, Julian had noticed a very peculiar thing 
about Mate Merriwether, and which had ex- 
cited more or less curiosity in his breast, which 
consisted of the fact that when he reached the 
sampan he tossed something bulky into the boat 
before himself taking a seat, and the thought 
occurred to the lad that possibly this might 
be something belonging to one of the two es- 
caped prisoners of the pirates, for he had never 
a thought of spoils or booty such as might nat- 
urally occupy the mind of an older adventurer 
like the mate. It puzzled him more because it 
seemed to have a jingle that was not unmusical, 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


297 


and somehow reminded him of hardware, tools, 
or something like that. 

As the flying sampan came close to the junk 
they saw that Kwang Chow had actually suc- 
ceeding in carrying out his instructions, for the 
anchor swung at the cathead and the matting 
sail forward was beginning to draw aloft under 
the vigorous pulls of the Chinese waterman and 
his willing assistant. 

Merriwether made out to come up just behind 
the stern, and drew alongside. “Up with you, 
young fellows, and you, too, Captain ! ’ ’ he said, 
having taken a grip on the rail. Like so many 
monkeys the hoys scrambled up to the deck of 
the Half-Moon. The Captain was not much be- 
hind them, though it became evident that he did 
not have any too much strength after his long 
siege as a prisoner; and that he had to make 
enthusiasm carry him through. 

When he had unloaded his freight Merri- 
wether made haste to get aboard himself, for al- 
ready was the boat beginning to move slowly 
through the water, as the native sail caught the 


298 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


breeze. He fastened the sampan so that it 
would trail behind, for if it could be saved it 
might come in very useful some time or other, 
though, of course, in a sudden fierce blow it 
would go adrift and founder. 

Now they had time to listen, in order to dis- 
cover what those ashore might be doing, and 
there was quite enough to tell them the period 
of indecision had passed for the pirates, and 
was succeeded by one of anger and pursuit. 

The shouts had changed from alarm and fear 
to fierce cries for vengeance, and when once this 
hybrid stock of the yellow races works up its 
passion to a pitch bordering on frenzied fury, it 
is not a very pleasant problem to deal with. 

4 4 Oh, they’re coming after us, all well and 
good,” remarked Merriwether, grimly, as he 
fetched the junk around so that the full force 
of the night wind would belly out her stiff sails ; 
“hark to ’em rushing to the boats and now you 
can hear ’em telling those on board just what the 
whole racket means. By my life, they’ve 
guessed it pretty close to the line of truth. Any 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


299 


way, there ’s a cyclone struck the shipping in the 
harbor, judging from the sounds to be heard all 
around. Bob, you look to the big gun, and see 
that it ’s loaded with a cannon charge, warranted 
to sink the toughest boat along the coast. Julian, 
bring every weapon from the cabin to the deck, 
and we ’ll stand by to receive orders, if so be 
the pesky wind fails . 9 9 That was what worried 
the mate more than anything else, for to his 
experienced mind there were not a few indica- 
tions about the capricious manner in which the 
breeze came and went that gave him uneasiness. 

A dozen boats had already started in pursuit 
and the end might not be yet, so that to rejoice 
would seem premature. 

The fires blazing on the side of the hill lighted 
up the water, now that they had drawn beyond 
the shadows along the shores, and this rude 
illumination enabled their enemies to mark their 
position well. They came on like a pack of 
bloodhounds closing in upon their quarry. 

The sounds from the shore became fainter, 
but whether this resulted from a diminution of 


300 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


the cries, or because the junk drew steadily 
away from the land Julian could not quite de- 
termine, nor did he care an iota, since all that 
interested him just then was the maneuvering 
of the fleet of war junks and proas skimming 
over the lighted sea like a covey of gulls. 

At least they drew up very slowly and it 
would take some time for the best among them 
to overhaul the fugitive craft ; and Merriwether, 
as he fondly caressed the famous gingal felt that 
he held in his hands the remedy for all their 
woes. 

The first boat that offered to give them trouble 
would receive a discharge from the shoulder 
cannon that, if well-aimed, would tear a gaping 
hole in her hull, and probably put her out of 
commission for good. 

Thus they might hope to care for the several 
vessels as they came up one by one. Why, 
Bob declared it would be a regular picnic so 
far as they were concerned; only, the pirates 
might also be doing something in the line of 
shooting about this time, perhaps to the detri- 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


301 


ment of the junk that wished to leave them in 
the lurch for good and all, and if the darkness 
thickened shortly they might escape by means 
of its friendly folds ; though should the pursuing 
vessels come close enough they could assault un- 
der cover of the same protecting blanket. 

Julian stood with his hand clasped in that of 
his father, while the little maid had crept around 
to the other side of the Captain, who feeling that 
she courted sympathy, even though he knew 
not her sad history, dropped a tender arm about 
her shoulder, as though ready to include her in 
his love; for he remembered the little girls he 
had left at home, though by this time they must 
have grown to be young women almost. 

Mate Merriwether was not fully satisfied over 
the progress they were making and yet with all 
his knowledge of the species of craft upon which 
they were endeavoring to escape they could not 
do much to increase their speed. “Fm afraid 
it’s fight before we’re done,” he remarked to his 
old friend, as he went back to where Bob held 


302 


ADEIFT ON A JUNK 


forth at the tiller, to note the advance of the 
leading pursner. 

Evidently the Half-Moon was an antiquated 
tub when compared with some of the swift- 
flying boats manned by the tigerish sailors from 
the village. Nothing could disguise tliat fact to 
eyes accustomed to noting speed and ability to 
maneuver. 

There was as yet no reason why they should 
despair, for, after carrying out the desperate 
game thus far with brilliant success surely they 
still held a fighting chance; and it seemed that 
no one on board the Half-Moon felt disposed to 
give up hope until every shred of their resources 
had been exhausted. 

So fast did the first boat come up on them 
that Merriwether prepared to indulge in a little 
cannonading, not that he anticipated getting any 
pleasure out of the recoil of that terrible gingal, 
but it became necessary to call a halt upon the 
ambition of the shouting freebooters thronging 
the decks of the various craft. Accordingly 
he prepared himself for the rude shock, and took 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


303 


deliberate aim at the water-line of the junk, 
after which he let fly. 

The report was something awful, and had 
Mate Merriwether been anything but a giant he 
must have been knocked flat upon his back ; as it 
was he received a sad wrench, though no more 
than he had anticipated. Bob, who was watch- 
ing operations with anxiohs eyes, gave vent to a 
hearty cheer that carried conviction with it. 

“Tore away a strip along the side and the 
water’s pouring in,” he cried. 

“Drop down, all! They’re going to fire 
back!” shouted the mate, and every one fell 
instantly to the deck, just as a rattling volley 
broke out. 


CHAPTER XXV. 


OVERTAKEN AT DAYBREAK. 

Fortunately no one was injured on board the 
junk Half-Moon when the storm of leaden hail 
broke over the vessel, which result might be set 
down partly to the poor aim of the yellow chaps 
manning the pursuing craft, and also to the fact 
that, obeying Mate Merriwether ’s warning, 
everyone had dropped to the deck in good time. 

The mate was busily engaged loading his tre- 
mendous firearm, though doubtless he contem- 
plated the obvious necessity of other discharges 
with anything but pleasure, after that first awful 
shock. 

“She’s sinking!” cried Bob, who was peeping 
over the rail; but it was not with reference to 
their own staunch craft he referred, his gaze 
being riveted on the swift flying boat that had 
304 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


305 


just threatened to overhaul them, and which 
had been made the recipient of the mate’s broad- 
side. It was true, the pirates not seeming to 
have practical sense enough to stop the flow of 
water through the gaping hole torn in her frail 
side just at the water-line, their whole thought 
now was to save their wretched lives. 

Some threw themselves into the sea, forcing 
other boats to slacken pace in order to pick them 
up, while more clung along the stern of the 
stricken corsair, shouting and shrieking for res- 
cue, being possibly unable to swim, though such 
a thing seemed hardly probably to those who 
had lived among them for years, and knew what 
water-ducks they generally were. At any rate 
that particular boat need no longer he feared, 
and was speedily left out of sight, her cargo of 
excited mariners roaring lustily the while. 

Merriwether was now ready for the next move 
in the game. Things looked brighter, Julian 
thought, such are the rapid changes that follow 
action in such cases, though it was impossible 
to tell what a single minute might bring forth, 


m 


ADEIFT ON A JUNK 


and they were as yet far from being “out of the 
woods/ ’ • 

The other pursuing junks and proas did not 
appear to take warning from the fate that had 
overtaken the stricken craft, for they still came 
forging ahead, lessening the distance between 
the fugitive boat and their prows. 

“Next!” said Mate Merriwether, grimly, as 
with a wry movement of his sore shoulder he 
brought the great gun on a line with the leading 
pursuer. Again the crash, sounding like a burst 
of thunder when the storm is at its height, and 
Julian, watching for the results, saw that the 
hole in the side of the other vessel was just a 
little too high to insure her immediate destruc- 
tion, for only a small quantity of water was 
tossed through the gap by her rapid progress. 
The pirates had been quite as anxious about 
results, and many necks were craned over the 
side in the endeavor to find out just how serious- 
ly the proa might have been stricken. When 
it became patent that the wound was not mortal, 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


307 


the fierce howl that broke out from the excited 
ruffians fairly made Julian’s flesh creep. 

By this time Merriwether ’s blood was up, and 
he no longer shrank from the pain caused by the 
recoil of his little pet; hastily he rammed an- 
other charge home, and at short quarters pro- 
ceeded to rip a gaping hole in the other vessel 
now close upon their side. The wild-looking 
figures on her deck evidently thought they 
should have something to say about this matter, 
since they were particularly interested, and ac- 
cordingly it began to rain fire along the side of 
the Half -Mo on as they popped away at her with 
the various weapons apt to fall into the hands 
of these rapacious freebooters of the China 
Sea. 

As some fellows on other boats persisted in 
whanging away at longer range, hit or miss, 
the scene was rather lively about this time, and 
the whistle of flying lead about the ears of the 
valiant mate while he leveled his gingal must 
have made him think of the flight of wild fowl 
on many a gloomy morning while he crouched 


308 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


over his decoys, and waited for wary wild ducks 
to come his way. 

Despite all the attention with which he was 
overwhelmed, Merriwether delivered his fire 
with great deliberation, and then dropped out 
of sight, for it was getting pretty warm around 
that time. He had had several narrow escapes, 
one missile tearing the splinters off the rail 
within a few inches of his head. 

This time he again delivered the goods, for 
the water could be seen rushing in through a 
great hole just on the water-line of this pursuer. 
Her crew adopted different tactics from those 
set by the men on the other stricken craft, their 
swift overhauling of the Half-Moon inciting 
them with the belief that they might be able to 
transfer themselves to the deck of the fugitive 
craft ere the inrushing tide sent their own boat 
down. They continued to keep straight on, 
overhauling the other with sure deliberation. 
Bob was dreadfully alarmed, expecting that in 
another short space of time they would have 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


309 


these murderous scoundrels swarming over 
their deck, when the end was certain. 

Older and wiser heads watched developments, 
even while keeping under cover all the while, for 
the leaden hail had not ceased to patter about 
the deck of the fugitive junk ; and both the Cap- 
tain and the mate were certain a change was 
impending in the status of affairs. At the same 
time they believed it policy to be prepared for 
emergencies, and a warning was sent out to all 
along the line to give a warm reception to the 
first pirate who jumped aboard. “ 

A dozen men hung in the bow of the proa , 
ready to take the leap, and their appearance, 
even as seen in the distant glow of the burning 
village, was something to haunt one for many a 
moon; some brandishing wicked blades, and 
others gripping, between their white teeth, 
knives which had histories no doubt, if cold steel 
could speak and unfold its horrors. 

On they came, though not near so swiftly as 
before, showing that the water that was forced 
through the hole in the side had begun to tell. 


310 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


It was a nice calculation, that of deciding 
whether the proa might come up before the in- 
take of sea water crippled her forward progress. 

Not twelve feet between. Julian thought it 
might be time to commence operations, for 
surely the sooner they decreased the number of 
those ugly and merciless rascals the better, 
since it would be apt to strike terror to their 
souls; but he held himself grimly in, waiting 
for those who knew best with regard to such 
matters to give the word. That was where the 
lad proved his wisdom. 

Now the proa had ceased to gain; they were 
running at exactly the same pace, though this 
could only be momentary, for the vessel that 
had started to take in a whole ballast of sea 
water must begin to lose about as soon as she 
ceased to forge ahead. 

The pirates were the first ones to note the fact 
of her falling off, and evidenced the fact by 
keen yells ; several desperate fellows, as if de- 
termined not to be cheated out of their prize, 
made flying leaps over the gap that still lay 



“SAVED BY A NECK! THERE COME YOUR BRITISH 

JACK-TARS.” 

(Page 324.) 




















• • 













ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


311 


between the boats. The first chap fell short, 
though his hands clawed the side of the junk, 
when he fell screeching like a maniac into the 
boiling sea, to be swallowed up in the waves 
created by the passage of the Half-Moon , and 
perhaps knocked on the head by the rush of his 
own craft behind. 

Perhaps the other was more of an athlete, for 
he certainly did bridge the gap existing between 
the vessels, though none of our friends could 
ever imagine how it had been done ; and the next 
they saw was his half-clothed body outlined 
against the heavens as he clambered aboard. 

Down went the now useless gingal to the deck 
and with a rush Merriwether closed in on the 
Malay, for, of course, the reckless one belonged 
to that stripe, those who had Chinese blood in 
their veins being a little more careful of their 
lives. 

The boys, looking on with startled eyes, saw 
the big mate knock down the hand that swung 
the murderous Jcriss, which fell upon the deck 
with a clatter, and then Merriwether had closed 


312 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


with the fellow. Once in that giant’s grasp the 
slippery Malay had little show, for although 
privation had reduced the mate’s strength con- 
siderably, it could not bring him to the level of 
an ordinary man, and he was able to pick the 
other up bodily in his arms, and despite his 
wriggling and biting, toss him over the rail. 

Jumping up, regardless of any random bul- 
let, Julian saw that the fellow plunged into the 
sea, and he knew that whether he sank or was 
picked up later by his companions, they had 
nothing further to fear from that score. 

And the proa was not only falling back, but 
showed signs of evident distress, sinking rap- 
idly, so that ere they drew out of eyesight they 
saw her go down by the head, doubtless leaving 
her crew to flutter around on the surface .of the 
water until rescue came or they went down to 
explore the bottom. Even this did not discour- 
age the others, they being determined rascals. 

Perhaps they understood that in the escape 
of these, their former prisoners, the safety of 
their village was placed in peril, since the truth 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


313 


must of a necessity soon be made known; and 
it was this fact that made them so abnormally 
vindictive. 

Really, it began to look as though by de- 
grees our friends might have to battle with and 
sink the whole navy of buccaneers. Julian had 
little doubt with respect to the result under such 
favorable circumstances, though he felt a qualm 
concerning what would happen if several of the 
boats overtook them at the same time, since 
numbers must prevent their giving especial at- 
tention to each one, for while they engaged 
with one proa, another could steal up on the 
other side and board them. 

It was with considerable pleasure, therefore, 
that he heard his father say they seemed to be 
holding their own, and that the old Half -Mo on 
was now a fair match for any of the craft re- 
maining. 

That meant a long chase, unless the pursuers 
grew disgusted and quit. It was wonderful how 
they could keep just such a relative distance as 
time passed; for hours they fled before the 


314 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


breeze, now and then apparently losing sight of 
the enemy, only to pick them np again later. 

Mate Merriwether was a practical seaman, 
and knew all the wrinkles of the business, so it 
could not have been through any lack of expe- 
dients on his part that these bloodhounds were 
not shaken off. 

That night was not soon to be forgotten. 
Julian held sweet converse with his rescued 
parent, who was so eager to hear every scrap 
of news concerning his dear ones across the 
sea that he did not find time to tell much about 
his own adventures while living among the pi- 
rates of the coast ; but all that would come later, 
seated at his own fireside, with wife and girls 
hanging over him, and his long yearning satis- 
fied at last. Finally the peep of day began to 
appear in the east. 

Eagerly they waited to ascertain what was 
in store for them, knowing that Merriwether had 
not held this particular course all through the 
tail end of the night for naught. 

Soon they discovered the enemy in grim pur- 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


315 


suit, not a quarter of a mile astern, and coming 
right along, as though they had business of im- 
portance to transact about that time. There 
were three of the boats, a junk and two of the 
narrow Malay proas , all filled with dare-devil 
men who wished for nothing better than a hand- 
to-hand scuffle with those in front. 

Bob gave utterance to an exclamation of dis- 
may. “Why, we’ve come straight hack to the 
Pirate Islands. Now our goose is cooked for 
sure, and yet they don’t look like the rat’s nest, 
either. What’s it mean, Mr. Merriwether, sir?” 
he asked, seeing that the mate smiled. 

“These are other islands, nearer the coast, 
that’s all. I hoped to slip in among them and 
dodge our friends some way or other. If it 
came to the worst perhaps we might draw ’em 
out and engage ’em one by one, after the tac- 
tics of the great Napoleon, ye know; but,” he 
added, lugubriously, as he swept his critical eye 
around upon the surface of the sea, now begin- 
ning to show up in the gray of early dawn, “I’m 
afraid the beastly wind is dying out, and means 


316 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


to go back on us, so that we’ll be in a sweet 
pickle if those chaps choose to push up and en- 
gage us on all sides.” 

The" boys echoed his dismay, for now that 
.he mentioned the fact, they, too, could see that 
the breeze did give positive signs of dropping, 
and the chances were they would soon be left 
motionless upon the heaving water. Before 
that happened, however, they had drawn in close 
to the islands, although whether this could help 
them or not, Julian did not profess to know. 

“ There they come, hang ’em!’’ announced 
the mate, in no pleasant frame of mind, as he 
once more picked up the wonderful gingal that 
had racked his shoulder so badly. 


CHAPTER XXVI. 


IN PORT AT LAST. 

The three native boats had, of course, lost the 
wind at about the same time it deserted the 
matting sails of the Half -Moon, so that they, too, 
lay on the bosom of the sea motionless for the 
time being. There was considerable of a bus- 
tle aboard, however, and it soon became evident 
that the ferocious buccaneers did not mean to 
sit there idle because, forsooth, such a little 
thing as lack of wind held them from overhaul- 
ing the object of their wrath. What were mus- 
cles made for if not to bridge over just such 
an emergency as this? And at the time Merri- 
wether announced the fact of their making a 
forward movement, they had put out sweeps, 
and were actually forcing their craft to cut 
down the distance separating them from their 
prey. 


317 


318 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


Our friends thought it too good an idea to be 
monopolized by a pack of yellow hornets, mas- 
querading as human beings, so they got out 
their oars, and proceeding to move the boat. 

The enemy gained, because they had more 
force to utilize; seeing which the mate sent 
Kwang Chow in the sampan to help tow, the 
waterman being an old and experienced hand 
at this sort of thing. 

Now they seemed to be holding their own for 
a brief time; but the enemy had another trick 
up their sleeve, and somehow managed to in- 
crease their speed, for the narrow proas cut 
through the water easier than the more squatty 
junks ; and the consequence was that two of the 
pursuing craft began to come up steadily but 
surely, despite the most strenuous exertions of 
our desperate company on board the Half- 
Moon. 

Oh, if only a breeze would pick up, enough 
to keep them moving! Merriwether had faith 
enough in the sailing qualities of his craft to 
believe she could hold her own with the other 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


319 


boats, even if not able to show them a clean 
pair of heels, but though his eager eyes scanned 
the sea far and near, he failed to detect the com- 
ing of any such blessed relief. 

“Pm afraid we must come to blows once 
more, ’ ’ he gasped, for his exertions at the sweep 
had winded him somewhat, 4 ‘though I hate to do 
it for more reasons than one , ’ ’with a wry glance 
at the awful gingal. 

Julian had gotten bravely over his first hor- 
ror with regard to warfare; for he knew how 
these villainous freebooters had treated his fa- 
ther, and what little regard they had for hu- 
man life ; indeed, he understood there was 
hardly one among them whose hands had not 
been red with blood; so that when the mate 
talked of meeting their coming with lead, he was 
eager to seize upon the weapons near at hand, 
and start into the fray. 

The mate was angry all through by this time, 
and ready to give the rascals what they so 
richly deserved, so far as it lay in his power. 
He suddenly snatched up the long Chinese 


320 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


breech-loading gun and bent it on the leading 
boat, that had now drawn very close ; and with 
the tremendous discharge, which echoed among 
the islands on their immediate lee, quite a com- 
motion was observed on board the proa, with 
men running this way and that, as though the 
big gun had done more or less damage. On 
came the others, as relentless as fate, for the 
men who pulled were believers in a man’s des- 
tiny overtaking him, no matter how he might try 
to avoid it. 

Merriwether was loading again, though he 
had some difficulty about raising his right arm. 
He intended that before the end arrived that 
wonderful weapon must give a royal account of 
itself, even though he had to put both shoulders 
out of service; for if a man is about to be 
slashed to pieces, anyway, of what use is a whole 
frame t 

Matters began to look squally again, for those 
on board the three rival boats had commenced 
to use their guns once more, so that it was ex- 
ceedingly risky to show even one’s head above 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


321 


the rail on the Half -Mo on; this state of affairs 
effectually put a stop to their using any motive 
power, while there seemed enough of the pirates 
to carry on the bombardment and the rowing 
at the same time. In order to discharge his 
gun when ready, Mate Merriwether was com- 
pelled to take severe chances, hut he did not 
hesitate, knowing how much depended on him 
at this juncture; while Julian crouched close by 
with a white face, yet firmly resolved that should 
anything happen to the big mate he would 
snatch up the weapon and continue to use it as 
best he might. The next shot created a little 
panic aboard the first proa, but to the sorrow 
of the eager hoys did not stop its steady for- 
ward progress. 

Kwang had, of course, come aboard again, 
not being desirous of having the marksman 
make a pot-shot of him in such an exposed posi- 
tion. He it was who discovered the first ripple 
of new wind on the surface of the water; but 
black despair seized upon them as it became 


322 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


evident that their enemies must be the first 
to profit by its coming. 

It reached the junk in the rear first, and she 
began to rapidly overtake her confederates; 
then they started to move more rapidly, and 
bore down upon the poor, motionless Half- 
Moon, their human freight fairly screeching in 
their savage exultation. 

Julian gave one look around, to see how his 
comrades were affected by this new and alarm- 
ing state of affairs ; the mate did not show much 
signs of despair, being too worked up over his 
business of firing that fearful gun ; the Captain, 
too, had his jaw set as though grimly deter- 
mined to die game, now that he had had a taste 
of blessed freedom; Bob was as white as a 
sheet though not with cowardice, for he gave ev- 
idence of wanting to commence operations as 
soon as the swarm of buccaneers came aboard ; 
and as for Kwang, he trembled and had a wild 
look in his slant eyes; but for all that they 
could depend on him to do all that lay in his 
power, judging from the way he gripped the 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 323 

mighty sword he had brought up from the 
cabin. 

Mate Merriwether again stood up to deliver 
his fire, and as in the beginning when he had 
had such success, instead of wasting it on the 
howling demons that lined the rail, he aimed 
at the water-line. He received a bullet in his 
arm, but had the savage satisfaction of knowing 
he had bored a hole larger than his hand in the 
side of the proa , through which the water im- 
mediately began to suck, sounding the knell of 
that individual boat. 

Julian had seen that the blood was flowing 
from the arm of the mate, and with a cry he 
snatched at the gun ; but it took more than this 
to put so doughty a fighter as bluff Merriwether 
out of the game, and he refused to leave the fir- 
ing line, loading again, with his teeth clenched, 
and his blue eyes fairly blazing with wrath. The 
fever of battle was upon him, and wounds could 
have no effect, unless of such a tragic character 
as to sap his strength. 

How would it all end! Were they all doomed 


324 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


to die before the cruel knives of these merciless 
butchers, already shouting madly in anticipa- 
tion of the apparently inevitable result? 

Now, Mate Merriwether had not kept his 
course direct for these same islands all through 
the night without some object in view, and while 
as yet it had not appeared that he was to be 
rewarded for his faith, still he had not lost 
all hope. It was when he was ready to send his 
compliments once more into the crowded ranks 
of the pirates, almost close enough to hitch on 
to the Half -Moon, although the breeze was keep- 
ing her just beyond their reach, that he was in- 
duced by some sense of intuition to turn his 
head and look eagerly toward the shore; and 
hardly had he done so than his face became 
wreathed in a broad smile, and at the same time 
he gave a shout that thrilled the boys as they 
had never remembered being shaken before, for 
it told of joy, relief, thanksgiving. 

“ Saved by a neck! There comes your Brit- 
ish jack-tars, Bob, my boy! Keep down all of 
you, or these fellows will murder every soul! 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


325 


We win, the game is ours, thanks he to God!” 
That he had gone mad was the first thought of 
the startled Julian, but as he, too, looked hack 
toward the land it was to discover a glorious 
sight that banished his fears and made his heart 
sing with thanksgiving. 

Around a point of land came the boats filled 
with sailors belonging to one of England ’s small 
cruisers, their oars rising and falling with true 
man-o ’-war regularity, and the water curling 
up before each prow as the sturdy arms pro- 
pelled the boats .onward. Never did ship- 
wrecked mariners sight a rescuing sail with 
more enthusiasm than our friends experienced 
when this blessed vision of the early morning 
light dawned upon their sight. Mate Merri- 
wether had remembered hearing that the gun- 
boat Sparrow had put in here recently to make 
some essential repairs to her machinery, and 
the pirates had been preparing in case she made 
them a visit later ; so it was in hopes of running 
across her somewhere that influenced him in 
making for this region. About this time those 


326 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


on 'pro a and junk became aware of what was 
bearing down upon them, and with warning 
cries they turned their attention to the task of 
saving themselves. 

Julian thought he had never fully appreci- 
ated the good qualities of honest jack-tars un- 
til this minute, when he saw a dozen swarm over 
the side, and realized that they were saved. 

Meantime, some quick questions were thrown 
at Mate Merriwether, who gave answers that 
appeared to please the officer in command. 

4 6 Come, friends,’ ’ exclaimed the mate, stepping 
over to the others, “we’re going to take their 
boat and pull around the point to the gunboat 
that lies there. In a few hours she will be ready 
to make a move, but just now she lies power- 
less ; but these jackies mean to give chase to the ' 
pirates, and good luck go with them, I say.” 

Captain Roxbury stepped into the cabin and 
reappeared bearing that mysterious package 
that had once excited Julian’s curiosity, but 
which he now knew contained quite a treasure 
which Merriwether and his father had captured 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


327 


from the secret receptacle in the pirate village, 
having long ago made up their minds so to do if 
they ever had the chance to get away. As they 
rowed toward the shore they saw the now honest 
old Half-Moon stand off, and begin to speed 
along in the wake of the three buccaneer ves- 
sels ; and Bob laughed heartily to think how the 
shoe was on the other foot. 

They found a warm welcome awaiting them 
on hoard the Sparrow, and Mate Merriwether 
and the Captain spent much time with her com- 
mander, giving him all needful information re- 
specting the den of iniquity that lay so peace- 
fully amid the other islands, a place he had 
visited several times, never finding enough ev- 
idence to admit of his wiping the nest out, 
though strongly inclined to do so on general 
principles. Now, he could act, and punish the 
many grievous sins committed on British com- 
merce of late years. 

Our story properly ends with the finding of 
Julian’s father, and their gaining a harbor of 
safety, so that it is only necessary to mention 


328 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


a few facts in connection with the other events 
occurring about that time. 

The Half-Moon overtook the junk, while the 
swifter proa got away ; hut they spared not 
those fierce fighters who neither expected nor 
asked quarter, so that when the captured craft 
was scuttled, not one of her crew remained to 
see the sight. 

The gunboat caught up with the junk before 
the islands were reached, and ere night fell the 
Sparrow had reduced the village to complete 
desolation; indeed, half of it had already gone 
up in smoke as a result of the ambitious labors 
of our two young firebugs. It would be a long 
time before the lawless elements in this region 
dared to organize another Hawks’ Nest, from 
which to sally forth and fall upon any luckless 
trader becalmed along the south coast of China. 

The home-coming of Captain Roxhury can 
better he imagined than described, and his fam- 
ily was undoubtedly the happiest in New Eng- 
land that day. 

Tressie found a contented home with them, 


ADRIFT ON A JUNK 


329 


for her father was never heard from again, hav- 
ing undoubtedly perished in the typhoon that 
raged so soon after he had been sent adrift in 
the yawl with his mate, Mr. Atkins. 

That some of the men were saved in a mirac- 
ulous manner, Julian knew, though the particu- 
lars never reached him; for a year later he 
chanced to come face to face with Mate Pandy 
and one of the other ring-leaders; they recog- 
nized him at sight, and made haste to scuttle off, 
so that the mystery of their being alive was 
never explained to him. 

As for Bob Kettles and Merriwether, they are 
frequent visitors at the Roxbury home and al- 
ways welcome. 




















'X 










« 












r 




* 









S 


/ 1 






% 
































% 























Jj 

* 















































































•> 







































* 



































LIBRARY 


OF 


CONGRESS 



□0020733267 



